Writing

"Our society is being dehumanized by computers". Write an essay explaining why you agree or disagree with this statement.

Grammar Commentaries

In the text “Computers for the Masses” you have come across three sentences with Subjunctive Mood. Scan the text and find these sentences. Translate them into Russian.

Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive mood is used to express a possible/impossible or desirable action.

Formation.

	Analytical Form		Synthetic Form
Present	I, we, you, he, she, it, they	should investigate would investigate	I, we, you, he, she, it, they	investigate (be) investigated (were)
Past	I, we, you, he, she, it, they	should have investigated would have investigated	I, we, you, he, she, it, they	have investigated (had been)

Usage:

Synthetic Form

1. In subordinate clauses

1. in conditional sentences – in the subordinate clause, e.g.:

If the distance between the two points be the same, no further experiments will be necessary.

Если расстояние между этими двумя точками будет одинаковым, не потребуется никаких дальнейших экспериментов.

If the acid were purified the reaction would take place.

Если бы кислота была очищена, реакция произошла бы.

2. subjective, e.g.:

It is necessary (important, possible) that the law be observed.

Важно, чтобы соблюдался этот закон.

3. objective (after the verbs "insist", "propose", "suggest", "demand", "order", "request", etc.) e.g.:

It was suggested that the question be discussed immediately.

Предложили, чтобы вопрос обсуждался немедленно.

4. of the adverbial modifier of comparison, e.g. ("were")

It was so cold as if it were winter.

Было так холодно, как будто была зима.

2. After the verb "wish", e.g.:

I wish everyone thought so. (Жаль, что все так не думают.)

I wish everyone had thought so. (Жаль, что все так не думали.)

Note. Subjunctive form "be" is used only in a written style.

Analytical form

1. Should or would

1. in conditional sentences – in the main clause, e.g.

If a consumer called a firm’s single national number he would be routed automatically to the nearest office.

Если бы потребитель набрал единый номер фирмы, его автоматически соединили бы с ближайшим офисом.

2. in simple clauses, e.g.:

We should make this remark in the separate section of the book.

Мы сделали бы это замечание в особом разделе данной книги.

There would be no life without water.

Без воды не было бы жизни.

2. Only should

In subordinate clauses

1. subjective, e.g.:

It is necessary that the substance should be pure.

Необходимо, чтобы вещество было чистым.

2. objective, e.g.:

He advised that the students should read this book.

Он советовал, чтобы студенты прочли эту книгу.

Subjunctive Mood should be used after

1. verbs:

advise demand desire insist order propose

request require suggest

2. some clauses:

It is necessary It is important It is of importance It is essential It is desirable It is advisable

It is strange It is surprising It is likely It is unlikely It is probable It is impossible

3. some conjunctions:

in order that as though

that so that

as if lest

Grammar Practice

1. Complete the following sentences. Follow the model.

Model. It is necessary that in forming holograms two sets of waves… (to be involved).

It is necessary that in forming holograms two sets of waves should be involved.

1. It is important that the description of holograms… (to aid in the understanding of the hologram process). 2. It is desirable that various colours… (not to be diffracted in different directions). 3. It is important that on object… (to be "illuminated" with pure tones of sound). 4. It is suggested that sound… (to be used in nondestructive testing).

2. Re-state the following sentences using "I wish".

1. The area of technology presents so many difficult problems. 2. Various colours are diffracted in different directions. 3. They can't suggest a better approach to the problem. 4. The need for telescope can't be avoided in this case. 5. Their discussion was limited to several indirect approaches to that problem. 6. They changed the temperature at the end of the experiment. 7. They didn't begin their research last week. 8. They didn't use sound in their underwater observations.

3. Translate the following sentences into Russian paying special attention to the Subjunctive Mood.

1. It is necessary that the type of the reaction be determined.

2. It is suggested that only logarithmic plots for each point be made.

3. It is essential that the substance be chemically pure.

4. We dilute the acid lest it be too strong.

5. If there were no air, the stone and the piece of paper would fall together.

6. I should give you a lot of examples without any difficulty.

7. It is unlikely that the reaction should occur.

8. It is desirable that this method should be recommended.

9. This would result in hydrogen abstraction reaction taking place.

10. The absolute zero is the temperature at which an ideal gas would have zero volume at any finite pressure.

11. Suppose, just for the sake of an argument that the large ball should come to rest after the impact.

12. The world itself behaves as if it were an enormous but weak magnet.

13. It is necessary that atomic energy should be used for industrial purposes.

14. It would be out of place here to give more than a summary of the work that has been done.

15. Don't expose hydrogen peroxide to the air, lest it should decompose.

16. The geometric properties of crystal are the same whether a crystal be large or small.

17. Electrons at less than a million volts would reach practically a constant speed, almost that of light.

18. Magnetism is very often treated as if it were a subject as fundamental as electricity.