The Conditional mood is used:
1) in the principal clause of a complex sentence with a subordinate clause of unreal condition or concession.
If I were you I should never do this.
Even if he had been there he wouldn't have changed anything.
2) in compound sentences (mostly with the conjunctions "otherwise'', "or", "but", "or else"):
I am very busy, otherwise I should go with you.
The boy would stud y well, but he is often ill.
3) in simple sentences with implied condition:
I should like to speak to you. (If I got a chance.)
4) in simple sentences with the expression "but for".
But for the moon it would be quite dark now.
The Suppositional Mood is used:
1. In indirect questions beginning with why (Subjunctive I is possible but rare):
Nobody could explain why he should have done so.
2. Modifying the noun regret:
She expressed her regret that things should have taken a bad turn.
3. Modifying the noun time:
It is high / about time you should go.
Note: Subjunctive II is in more common use here:
It is time we went home.
4. In conditional clauses when the fulfilment of the condition is unlikely though possible:
If I should meet her tomorrow I should / shall speak to her.
The Old Present Subjunctive (I)
The Old Present Subjunctive has only one form which is a homonym of the infinitive. The main meaning of the Old Present Subjunctive is to express a problematic action not as a real fact but as a wish, supposition, smth desirable, but not contrary to reality.
The use of the Old Present Subjunctive is limited. It can be found in the following cases:
1) in a few set expressions rendering wish or concession:
Wish 1. Success attend you! - !
2. God bless you! - !
3. God save the king! - , !
4. Be you happy! - !
5. Long live our friendship! - !
6. Damn you! Curse you! - !
Concession 1. Come what may come. , .
2. Be it as it is. - , .
3. So be it. - .
2) It is abookish style. It may be found in official and scientific articles and in poetry (after words expressing necessity, wish, demands such as "to insist", "to demand", "to require"):
The doctor insisted that the boy remain in bed.
I demand he do the job.
The regulation is that manuscripts be written on one side only.
Forms of Subjunctive Mood
1. Subjunctive I Mood = to Infinitive Success attend you! ! | |
2. Subjunctive II Mood | |
Present = Past Indefinite I wish he were present. , . Its high time you did your flat. . | Past = Past Perfect I wish she had gone to England last year. , . |
3. Suppositional Mood | |
Present = should + Indefinite Infinitive I insist that you should work hard. , . | Past = should + Perfect Infinitive ( !) Its important that you should have been present at the meeting. , . |
4. Conditional Mood | |
Present = would / should + Indefinite Infinitive If it were warm, we would go to the park. , . ( ) | Past = would / should + Perfect Infinitive If I had worked harder last year, I would have got an excellent mark at the exam. , . |
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Types of Conditional Mood
Type of Condition ( ) | Subordinate clause ( ) | Main clause ( ) |
1. Real () | Indicative Mood | Indicative / Imperative Mood |
e.g. If I meet her, , | Ill tell her the news. | |
e.g. If you meet her, , | warn her about it. . | |
2. Problematic () | Suppositional Mood | Indicative / Imperative Mood |
e.g. Should he meet her (If he should meet her), , / , / / , , | he will tell her the news. . | |
, / , / / , , | warn her about it. . |
3. Remote () | were to () | Conditional Mood | |
e.g. If she were to live in England, , | I would be happy. . | ||
4. Unreal () | I. | Subjunctive II Present | Conditional Mood Present |
If they met, , | they would discuss it. ( ). | ||
II. | Subjunctive II Past | Conditional Mood Past | |
If they had met yesterday, , | they would have discussed it. ( ). | ||
III. | Mixed Type | ||
Subjunctive II Present | Conditional Mood Past | ||
If she werent absent minded, , | she wouldnt have lost the book. . | ||
Subjunctive II Past | Conditional Mood Present | ||
If he hadnt missed the lesson, , | he would be answering well now. . |
Not to mix with Conditional sentences!