Indicative;
subjunctive, where he discriminates between two entirely different kinds of subjunctive form – the old simple subjunctive and the newer forms consisting of a modal auxiliary + a dependent infinitive of the verb.
The function of the subjunctive is to represent something not as an actual reality, but as formed in the mind of the speaker as a desire, wish, volition, plan, conception, thought. The present subjunctive is associated with the idea of hopefulness, likelihood, while the past and the past perfect subjunctive indicate doubt, unreality, modesty, politeness,
e.g. “I desire that he go at once”. “You should have gone at once”.
“I would buy it if I had the money”. “I would have bought it if I had had the money”.
“I fear he may come too late” . “I am becoming worried. He might come too late.”
The category of mood continues to be a tremendously interesting field of observation. The described system is not finished in terms of the historical development of language; on the contrary, it is in the state of making and change.
Питання для обговорення:
What is specific to the categories of person and number in English?
What enables scholars to identify six number-person forms of the verb in English?
What does the immanent character of the category of tense imply?
What is the main weak point of the traditional “linear” interpretation of tenses?
What are the theoretical advantages of identifying in English two separate tense categories?
What categorial meanings do continuous forms and non-continuous forms express?
What categories do the perfect forms express?
What accounts for the peculiar place of the category of voice among the verbal categories?
What makes the expression of voice distinctions in English specific?
What complicates the analysis of English mood forms?
What does the category of mood express?
What features of mood forms should be taken into account to give a full picture of English moods?
What is the status of the so-called “imperative mood” in English?