Unit 12 Grammar: Subjunctive Mood I

Objectives: Introduction of new grammar theme “Subjunctive Mood I” and fulfilling grammar exercises. Revion of Conditional Sentences I.

Subjunctive Mood I

See the video on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe45pgRWyDg (2:08 min) or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AV87L3urv4&feature=related (5:56 min) with explonation of usage of subjunctive mood.

The first type of sentences is probable. The verb in the if- clause is in the present tense; the verb in the main clause is in the future simple. I doesn’t matter which comes first: If he runs he’ll get there in time.

This type of sentence implies that the action in the if-clause is quite probable.

Possible variations of the basic form

 Variations of the main clause. Instead of if + present + may/might (possibility): If the fog gets thicker the plane may/might be diverted.

 If + present + may (permission) or can (permission or ability): If your documents are in order you may/can leave at once.

 If + present + must, should or any expressions of command, request or advice: If you want to lose weight you must/ should eat less bread.

 If + present + another present tense, if + two present tenses is used to express automatic or habitual results: If you heat ice turns to water

 If + present continuous, to indicate a present action or a future arrangement: If you are waiting for a bus (present action) you’d better join the queue.

 If + present perfect: If you have finished dinner I’ll ask the waiter for the bill.

Ex. 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

1. If I see him I (give) him a lift. 2. The table will collapse if you (stand) on it. 3. If he (eat) all that he will be ill. 4. If I find your passport I (telephone) you at once. 5. The police (arrest) him if they catch him. 6. Someone (steal) your car if you leave it unlocked. 7. If she (need) a radio she can borrow mine. 8. What will happen if my parachute (not open). 9. If he (be) late we’ll go without him. 10. Unless he (sell) more he won’t get much commission. 11. If you (not believe) what I say, ask your mother. 12. Should you require anything else please (ring) the bell for the attendant?

Unit 13 Grammar: Subjunctive Mood II

Objectives: Introduction of new grammar theme “Subjunctive Mood II” and fulfilling grammar exercises.

Subjunctive Mood II.

The verb in the if-clause is in the past tense; the verb in the main clause is in the conditional tense: If I had a map I would lend it to you.

Type 2 is used:

 When the supposition is contrary to known facts: If I lived near my office I’d be in time for work. ( But I don’t live near my office).

 When we don’t expect the action in the if-clause to take place: If a burglar came into my room at night I’d scream. (But I don’t expect a burglar to come in).

 Might or could may be used instead of would: If you tried again you would succeed. (certain result). If you tried again you might succeed. (possible result). If I had a permit he could get a job. (ability or permission).

Ex. 1. Finish these sentences, taking care to use the correct tenses.

1. If he had my advice … 2. If you ate less … 3. We’ll send for the doctor … 4. If she practiced more … 5. If there isn’t enough wine in the bottle … 6. If you have checked the petrol before we started … 7. This clock wouldn’t have run down if … 8. If these gates are locked … 9. If we leave before breakfast… 10. The grass would look better if … 11. If you didn’t shake the camera so much, your photographs … 12. I brought my coat … 13. If Tom rings while I’m out … 14. Try on the blue one if …. 15. Her life might been saved if … 16. If your uncle sees you ….

Ex. 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tenses.

1. If I had a typewriter I (type) it myself. 2. I shouldn’t drink that wine if I (be) you. 3. More tourists would come to this country if it (have) a better climate. 4. If you (not sneeze) he wouldn’t have known that we were there. 5. The hens (not get) into the house if you shut the door. 6. Rome (be captured) by her enemies if the geese hadn’t cackled.

Ex. 3. The best example of the subjunctive mood is the song "If I were a rich man" from the musical "Fiddler on the roof" http://www.learnenglish.de/grammar/moodsubjunctive.html. See on-line the abstract and read subtitles.

Ex. 4. TEST YOURSELF. Which of the following sentences need verbs in the subjunctive mood? Why?

1. If I was Sam, I would hire an assistant now before the hiring freeze takes effect.

2. The committee suggested that Dr. Jones is chosen as the next chief of staff.

3. As August approaches, every school child wishes that his or her vacation was longer.

4. It is critical that every potential donor gives blood during this shortage.

Ex. 5. A) Read the article ‘If One Were to Use the Subjunctive Mood Properly’.

Flickr/Zombieite

The New York Times' After Deadline blog contains a fantastic letter to the paper's editor from March of 1924 that reminds us that the more things change, the more they stay the same, copy-wise and otherwise. In that still-relevant letter, a woman named Ida M. Mason asked ominously, "How many 100 per cent. Americans are alive to another sinister and subtle danger that is threatening a vital prop of the nation, viz., the frequent disregard of the subjunctive mood from the pens of those who should know better?" She continued, "In these parlous times what comfort is there to take refuge in a book only to be jarred by 'If I was thus and so, I would do this and that,' again and again by English and American writers of note? Is everything topsy-turvy these days? Even oil on the troubled waters produces storm instead of calm—and one by one time-honored institutions and conventions go by the board, but if the subjunctive mood goes, then all is lost." Mason then requests that a Congressional investigation be undertaken "to discover what sinister propaganda is at the bottom of this new peril." Alas, the particulars of her plea were not carried out, but it's nearly 90 years later and we're still talking about the subjunctive. So it's not dead... yet. 

There's something to be said for the consistency reflected in the way that we bemoan copy editing and linguistic mistakes as if it were our job, whether we're in 1924 or 2012—and whether those mistakes are problems related to the subjunctive or something else entirely. For evidence of the long life of this general nitpicking, read James Thurber's essay on "subjunctive fights" among married couples. Maybe there's a kind of comfort that regardless of these modern Internetty times we continue to be upset by typographical mistakes, grammatical gaffes, and assumed misuses of words (as with Biden's recent literally dropping). All is not lost yet! We at least notice, or, well, some of us do. The photo above, for instance, comes from a Flickr user who appreciates the message of the graffiti but can't help pointing out, "Before you start writing your movie, you might want to work on contractions, possessives, and the subjunctive mood." A fair point.

Philip B. Corbett picks up Mason's argument in his Times piece today, explaining what it is yet again (he's been on this bandwagon for a while) and why we should care. The thing is, proper use of the subjunctive—once you learn it and get over that difficult-sounding word, subjunctive, which has absolutely nothing to do with pinkeye—is one of the most easily deployed copy editing techniques that will put you in good stead with word nerds. Essentially, you're altering a verb to reflect what is or is not fact. In the image above, for example, while our graffiti artist uses was, life is not and never will be, actually, a movie. So he or she should have used were. Similarly, the song "If I Were a Carpenter," should be read to be about someone who is not, and is never planning to become, a carpenter, nor the object of his affection a lady or one who will be one, and so on. The use of were instead of was (the indicative) is an indication that what follows is not true or is, at the very least, in doubt, "a wishful notion or a proposition contrary to fact." It can, of course, get more complicated than that, what with tenses and other variances—Corbett includes some further examples to drive home the point and show possible pitfalls of use—but those are the basics. Easy, no? Was for truth; were for wishful or doubtfully true.

If Ida Mason were reading over your shoulder right now, we'd like to imagine she would be proud, at least, for a moment. Before she realized that the graffiti shown in the photo above uses an N instead of an andand the wrong your completely. Congress should do something about that. 

B) Do you want to add to this story? Let know in comments or send an email to the author at [e-mail]. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/open-wire/).

Ex. 15. Listen to the song ‘What if’ on http://busyteacher.org/5413-what-if-by-coldplay-song-worksheet-.html, fill in the gaps with Second Conditional and read its words.

What if there _______________(be) no lie Nothing wrong, nothing right What if there _______________(be) no time And no reason, or rhyme What if you _______________ decide That you don't want me there by your side That you don't want me there in your life What if I _______________(get) it wrong And no poem or song _______________ put right what I got wrong Or make you feel I belong What if you _______________ decide That you don't want me there by your side That you don't want me there in your life Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right Let's take a breath, jump over the side Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right How _______________ you know it, if you don't even try Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right Every step that you take _______________ be your biggest mistake It _______________ bend or it could break That's the risk that you take What if you _______________ decide That you don't want me there in your life That you don't want me there by your side Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right Let's take a breath, jump over the side Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right How _______________ you know when you don't even try Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right Oh - Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right, Let's take a breath, jump over the side. Ooh ooh-ooh, that's right, You know that darkness always turns into light. Ooh-ooh, that's right