The Use of the Oblique Moods in Subject Subordinate Clause

Subject clauses perform the function of the subject to the predicate of the principal part. The Suppositional Mood is used in the subject clause after the principal clause of the type «It is necessary», «It is important», «It is desirable». The Suppositional Mood expresses a problematic action:

e.g. It is recommended that you should come.

«Should + Indefinite Infinitive» is used if the action expressed in the subject clause is simultaneous with that of the principal clause. «Should + Perfect Infinitive» is used if the action expressed in the subordinate clause is prior to that of the principal clause.

e.g. It was necessary that we should do the task ahead of time.

It is strange that he should have said that.

Note 1: After the expressions «It is possible», «It is probable», «It is likely» the modal phrase «may/might + Infinitive» is used in affirmative constructions, but in interrogative and negative constructions the Suppositional Mood is used. ₍

e.g. It is possible that they may have missed the train.

It is possible that he may come by the nine o’clock train.

Is it possible that he should come by the nine o’clock train?

It is impossible that he should have said so.

Note 2: If the reference is made to an actually existing state of things - to real facts, the Indicative Mood is used in the subject clause.

e.g. It is strange that he didn't congratulate me on the holiday.

Is it possible that she has gone home?

Note 3: In the subject clauses Subjunctive I is also possible (it expresses a problematic action), which is a characteristic feature of documents and American English.

e.g. It was ordered that no ship leave the harbour before daybreak.

The Use of the Oblique Moods in the Object Subordinate Clause

I. The Suppositional Mood is used in object subordinate clauses after:

1). Verbs and word-groups denoting order, suggestion, advice, desire etc. found in the principal clause.

e.g. He demanded that all the work should be done in time.

He suggests that they should take part in the conference.

The doctor insisted that the patient should stay in bed for some days.

In American English we also find Subjunctive I here.

e.g. She insisted that they open a bottle of wine and toast her success.

2). The expression of fear such as «to be afraid of», «to be frightened», «to be nervous», «to tremble», etc. when the object clause is introduced by the conjunction «lest».

e.g. We were afraid lest she should be mistaken.

She fears lest she should disturb me.

The old man feared lest his connections with the partisans should be known.

The rules of the Sequence of Tenses are not observed here.

Note 1: When the object subordinate clause of fear is introduced by the conjunction «that» and the action of the subordinate clause is represented as an actual fact the Indicative Mood is used.

e.g. They were afraid that they had lost their way in the darkness.

Care should be taken to observe the rules of the Sequence of Tenses.

Note 2: We also find «may/might + Infinitive» in object clauses after expressions of fear introduced by «that».

e.g. She was afraid that he might miss his only chance.

The rules of the Sequence of Tenses are also observed here.

3). In the expressions of regret and supposition or surprise the emotional Suppositional mood is used. In such sentences the Indicative Mood is also possible.

e.g. I’m sorry that he should be so careless.

II. When the predicate of the principal clause is expressed by the verb «wish» Subjunctive II forms are used in the object subordinate clause expressing wish. If the action in the object clause is simultaneous with the action in the principal clause Present Subjunctive II is used. If the action in the object clause is prior to that in the principal clause Past Subjunctive II is used.

e.g. I wish it were all over.

I wish I were a child again.

She said she wished she were a child again.

Oh, dear, I wish 1 hadn’t done it.

Note 1: Subjunctive II «would» (the form of the modal verb will) for all persons and the Infinitive of a notional verb is used after the verb «wish» under the following conditions:

1) when the fulfillment of «wish» depends on the will of the subject of the subordinate clause. This construction makes the sentence emphatic and usually expresses request.

This term is used only if:

2) the subjects in both clauses are different;

3) the wish refers to the Present or Future.

e.g. I wish you would speak to the point.

She said she wished my brother would mind his own business.

III. Wishes about simple future events are expressed with «hope» in the principal clause and the Indicative Mood form of a verb in the subordinate clause:

e.g. I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.

I hope he’ll stop talking soon.

IV. «I’d rather» is followed by Present Subjunctive II in the subordinate clause to express wishes in the present. It expresses a personal preference about actions.

e.g. I'd rather you didn’t smoke in here.

«I’d sooner» works in the same way.

Both «I’d sooner» and «I’d rather» are followed by the Infinitive when comparing nouns or phrases.

e.g. I'd rather be a sailor than a soldier. (present)

I'd rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome. (past)

V. «I’d prefer» can be used as a part of a Conditional sentence if a direct object «it» is found in the principal clause:

e.g. I 'd prefer it if you didn’t go.

But: I’d prefer tea to coffee. I’d prefer you not to go.