Subjunctive I in simple sentences.

Subjunctive I is seldom used in modern English. It is mostly used in the language of official documents, high prose, and the American variant of English. It is also used in simple sentences with an `optative meaning (желательный), in oaths, slogans, etc. Such sentences are usually exclamatory.

e.g. Let it be! Damn it! Long live May Day!

The Conditional Mood

The conditional mood denotes an unreal action the unreality of which is due to the absence of necessary conditions.

The conditional mood is formed with the help of the auxiliary verbs should/would for the first person singular and plural, and would for the second and third persons singular and plural and the infinitive of the notional verb in the appropriate form without particle to.

The conditional mood has two forms: non-perfect and perfect.

Non-perfect Perfect

I should come I should have come

he/she/it would come he/she/it would have come

we should come we should have come

you would come you would have come

they would come they would have come

The non-perfect form of the conditional mood is used to refer the action to the present or the future. It expresses simultaneousness. The perfect form expresses priority.

e.g. If I were you, I shouldn’t trust this man.

If you were given another chance, what would you do?

If I were you, I would have told him the truth long ago.

The use of the conditional mood.

I. The conditional mood is used in the sentences and clauses of implied condition :

a) after the combination but for (если бы не).

e.g. But for the rain we should go to the country now.

But for his help we wouldn’t have finished the work in time.

b) after the conjunctive adverb otherwise (или же, в противном случае, иначе; в других обстоятельствах)

e.g .He is not here. Otherwise I would know.

I was very busy yesterday. Otherwise I would have gone to the cinema with you.

c) after the expression in your place.

e.g. In your place I wouldn’t help him.

In your place I would have told the truth before.

d) when the condition is implied by the context.

e.g . I wouldn’t believe him. (я бы не поверила ему)

I wouldn’t have believed that. But I saw it with my own eyes.

II. The conditional mood is used in the principle clause of sentences with adverbial clauses of unreal condition and concession.

e.g. If I were you I should go there at once.

If he had helped you yesterday you would have finished your work already.

Even if he had helped them they would not have finished the work in time.

Subjunctive II

Subjunctive II represents the action as unreal, as contrary to reality.

Subjunctive II has two forms: non-perfect and perfect. The non-perfect form coincides with the Past Simple. Perfect form coincides with the Past Perfect.

Non-perfect Perfect

I I

he/she/it he/she/it

we were, went we had been, had gone

you you

they they

The non-perfect form of subjunctive II is used to express simultaneous actions referring to the present or past or actions referring to the future.

e.g. She behaved as if she were a child. She wished she would stay there forever.

The perfect form of subjunctive II is used to express priority. It is used to express actions which were not fulfilled.

e.g. I wish I had followed his advice.