The Conditional Mood

The Conditional Mood is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs should and would and the Infinitive of the main verb without the particle to. Both should or would can be used with the first person singular and plural, but with the second and the third persons the auxiliary verb would is used only.

Ex. I should (or I would) do it for you. (Both should or would is possible).

Ex. He would do it for you. (Should is not possible).

The Conditional Mood coincides in its form with Future-in-the-Past of the Indicative Mood (should / would + the infinitive of the main verb) but differs in its purpose and meaning.

Future-in-the-Past is used to express a real action which was future from the point of the view of the past.

Ex. He believed I would come back. But I didn’t. (A real action which was future from the point of the view of the past).

The Conditional Mood is used in simple, compound or complex sentences to indicate an action which would take (have taken) place under certain conditions expressed or implied. These conditions can be expressed in the same sentence or in other sentences from the same context.

Ex. I would buy the book but I’ve got too little money on me. (The condition is expressed in the other independent clause of the same sentence – I’ve got too little money on me)

Ex. It’s a pity I have got too little money on me. I would buy the book. (The condition is expressed in the previous sentence).

The Conditional Mood has two tense forms: present and the past.

The Present Conditional is formed with the help of the auxiliary verbs should and would and the Indefinite Infinitive (Common Aspect) or the Continuous Infinitive (Continuous Aspect) of the main verb. The Common Aspect of the Present Conditional coincides in its form with Future-in-the-Past Indefinite of the Indicative Mood. The form of the Continuous Aspect of the Present Conditional is individual as there is no Future-in-the-Past Continuous in the English Tense System.

Ex. I (we) should / would do it. (or I (we) should / would be doing it). (Both should or would is possible).

Ex. He (she, it, you, they) would do it. (or He (she, it, you, they) would be doing it). (Should is not possible).

The Continuous Aspect of the Conditional Mood is used when it is necessary to emphasize an action in its progress.

Ex. I do not have much time. I would be having tea. (The action in its progress is emphasized).

The Present Conditional expresses an action which could take place in present or in future under certain conditions expressed or implied.

Ex. I would call on him today (tomorrow) but I do not have much time.(The action refers to the present / future).

The Past Conditional is formed with the help of the auxiliary verbs should and would and the Perfect Infinitive (the Common Aspect) or the Perfect-Continuous Infinitive (the Continuous Aspect) of the main verb. The Past Conditional (the Common Aspect) coincides in its form with Future-in-the-Past Perfect of the Indicative Mood and the Past Conditional (the Continuous Action) coincides with Future-in-the-Past Perfect-Continuous of the indicative Mood.

Ex. I (we) should / would have done it. (The Past Conditional coincides in its form with Future-in-the-Past Perfect).

The Past Conditional expresses an action which could have taken place in past under certain conditions expressed or implied.

Ex. I would have called on him yesterday but I didn’t have much time. (The action refers to the past).