Grammar exercises. Subjunctive Mood.

Exercise 1.

Compare these sentences . Which is the difference between them, explain.

1. If the population of one animal a). If the population of one animal

increases, there is not enough increased, there would not be enough

food and water for all the animals. Food and water for all the animals.

2. If fire destroys the vegetation in b). If fire destroyed the vegetation in

a region, there will be certain a region, there would be certain

changes. changes.

3. First grass and some flowers c). First grass and some flowers would

will grow. grow.

4. Then insects will appear. d). Then insects would appear.

5. The wind blow the seeds e). The wind would blow the seeds

of small trees. of small trees.

6. These trees will grow and birds f). These trees would grow and birds and

and animals will appear. animals would appear.

7. Life is impossible without g). Life would be impossible without a

a layer of ozone. layer of ozone.

Exercise 2.

Translate the following sentences paying attention to the mood of the verbs.

1 I should give you a lot of examples without any difficulty. 2. The engineer demanded that the new tractor should be tested. 3. Provided your sister sees the picture ask her to describe it. 4. The student will not be able to translate this text unless he gets a good dictionary. 5. I.V. Michurin grew different kinds of fruit so that he might provide the people with such food as had never existed before. 6. Without the Sun there would be no light, no heat, no energy of any kind. 7. If there had been oxygen in the atmosphere when life began, the sun’s rays would not have prevented life from developing on land. 8. Without decomposers chemical substances would not be able to return to the physical environment. 9. If the amount of energy at the end of a food chain did not depend on the length of the chain each plant would provide a large amount of energy. 10. Without respiration of all living things carbon dioxide would not be returned to the air. 11. If ecosystems did not change all the time plants and animals would not be able to adapt to changes in the physical environment.

Exercise 3.

Complete the following sentences using Subjunctive Mood.

Model : If had known this rule… ( to make so many mistakes) – If he had known this rule he would not have made so many mistakes.

1. It’s a pity Mary isn’t here now…(to begin the experiment). 2. I’m sorry you didn’t come yesterday… (to introduce you to my parents). 3. If you took part in these sporting competitions…(to do a lot of good). 4. If you had kept this fruit in a cool place… (not to spoil ).

Exercise 4.

Work in pairs. Ask your groupmate the following questions, let him/her answer them.

1. Suppose tomorrow is your mother’s birthday. What would you give her as a present? 2. Suppose the weather is fine on Sunday. Where would you go ? 3. Suppose the weather is bad on Sunday. How would you spend it? 4. Suppose you are in a hurry. Would you go by bus or by taxi? 5. Suppose you are going to the South for a holiday. Would you go by train or by air? 6. Suppose you have a chance to go either to the theatre or to the concert of a good pianist. Which would you prefer? 7. When I was at the library yesterday the librarian showed me a detective story and a classic English novel. Which book would you have taken?

Exercise 5.

Complete the following interrogative sentences. Let your groupmate answer them.

1. What would you do if you… (to meet a schoolfriend; to want to speak good English; to fail in the examination; not to enter the University; to be late for the lecture; to need a textbook in class; not to understand some English words in the text)?

2. What would have happened if you…( not to help her; not to work much; not to keep fruit in a cool place)?

3. Where would you go tonight if you… (to be free; not to have much homework; not to be busy)?

Exercise 6.

Complete the following sentences .

1. Were my son with me … .

2. Were you in Astana now … .

3. Were he a better chess – player … .

4. Had I a faithful friend … .

5. Were you free tomorrow … .

6. Were it autumn now … .

7. Had they seen the film … .

8. Had he heard the news at once … .

9. Had she spoken more distinctly … .

10. Hadn’t it been stuffy here … .

11. Had he graduated from the University last year … .

12. Had you fallen ill … .

13. Could he cook …. .

14. Had she known the facts …. .

15. Could he have repaired his car … .

Exercise 7.

Read the following sentences. Comment on the use and meaning of the verb forms.

1. I wish I could speak Spanish. 2. He wished he had his father’s talent. 3. I wish you were listening to me attentively. 4. I wish you were here and knew what we know. 5. Alec wished he had gone with them. 6. We wish it were sunny and warm all year round 7. Mother wished Ann didn’t have a bad cold. 8. I wished I had stayed in the country longer. 9. She wished she hadn’t been rude to him. 10. We wish we had known about the incident then. 11. I wish you could have kept us company that night. 12. I wish you would come to my party tomorrow. 13. He only wished he could work more.

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