20. Oblique moods in adverbial clauses.

Oblique mood forms (Subjunctive II, Conditional and Suppositional) distinguish the categories of aspect, correlation and voice, but they have no tense category. Otherwise stated, they cannot refer the action directly to the present, past or future. They can only indicate if the action of the verb in the Oblique Mood coincides in time with the action of the indicative mood form in the principal clause, or precedes it. This relative expression of time reference is based on the category of correlation, that is, a non-perfect form of Subjunctive II, the Conditional or the Suppositional Mood (used in the subordinate clause) denotes an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the indicative mood form in the principal clause: / wish I were home, (were denotes a present action as it is simultaneous with the present action wish)I was wishing I were still there, (were denotes a past action since it is simultaneous with the past action was wishing)

Perfect forms of Subjunctive II, the Conditional and the Suppositional Mood indicate priority to the action expressed by the indicative mood form in the principal clause. Consequently, perfect forms always express past actions: / wish I hadn't got into this mess.

If there is no indicative mood form in the sentence, then a non-perfect oblique mood form directly refers the action to the present or future:

I wouldn't do a thing like that without telling you. If wishes were horses beggars would ride.

Perfect oblique mood forms refer the actions to the past: Ten years ago, Maurice wouldn't have spoken like this. If we'd been caught last night — what would have happened to us?

ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Subjunctive II is used:

1. In adverbial clauses of comparison or manner introduced

by the conjunctions as if, as though: His voice broke as if he were going to cry. (simultaneous action) He speaks as if he had never seen me before, (prior action)

2. In adverbial clauses of unreal condition or concession

(after the conjunction even if, even though). The principal clause contains a form of the Conditional Mood: I shouldn't take this line if I were you. (present action) Even if they had wanted me to stay I should have refused. (past action)

Clauses of unreal condition may be introduced asyndetically. In this case inversion serves as a means of subordination: Were it all true, it would still not excuse their actions. Had she not worn an apron, I would not have known how to address her.

ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

1. In adverbial clauses of purpose introduced by the conjunctions so that, lest (literary' style) the non-perfect Suppositional Mood is used or, rarely, Subjunctive I: Mary lowered her eyes so that he should not see the faint dream of amusement in them.

2. In adverbial clauses of concession introduced by though, although, whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, etc., the non-perfect Suppositional Mood or Subjunctive I may be used with

reference to the present or future: Though he should make every effort he cannot succeed.

More usual, however, are the modal phrases may (might) •f infinitive: Whoever he may be, he has no right to be rude. Though he might have been suspicious, he gave no sign. In the adverbial clauses of condition referring to the future the Suppositional Mood is used to show that the action is possible, though unlikely. Such clauses may be rendered into Russian as случилось так, что…, если случайно;

In the principal clause the Conditional Mood, the Future Indicative or the Imperative Mood may be used:

If it should be wet they would stay at home. If you should find another way out, will you inform me?

In a literary style conditional clauses of this type are sometimes joined to the principal clause asyndetically, by means of inversion:

Should a conflict ever flare up in Europe, it would immediately blow up into a world war.