Unreality in Appositive and Predicative Clauses

In appositive clauses usually introduced by conjunction that, as a rule, Indicative Mood is found. The rules of sequence of tenses must be observed:

• He is under the impression that I am hiding something from him.

should*+Infinitive is used in appositive clauses after nouns expressing order, suggestion, wish, agreement and decision, such as agreement, decision, demand, desire, order, proposal, recommendation, request, require­ment, suggestion, understanding, wish, etc. The rules of sequence of tenses are not observed:

• He told me of his desire that all should be happy.

• There was no likelihood that anyone should be there.

In predicative clauses gen­erally Indicative Mood is used. The rules of sequence of tenses are observed:

• The question is how we are going to find the means to do it.

• The fact was that I hardly knew what to say.

• The trouble is that he didn't find him in.

When the subject of the principal clause is the noun aim, arrangement, desire, condition, de­cision, idea, plan, proposal, suggestion, wish, etc, should*+Infinitive is used in subordinate clause and the rules of sequence of tenses are not observed:

• My suggestion is that we should go and see what we can do.

• His desire was that life should fall in with his own plans.

Unreality in Adverbial Clauses of Purpose

An adverbial modifier of purpose is usually expressed by an infinitive. It may be preceded by in order or so as:

• He went up to his room to change.

• I kept drinking coffee in order to stay awake.

• You'd better wait outside so as to be at hand if I want you.

More often so as is used with negative infinitive:

• She sat still so as not to disturb the dog.

A clause of purpose introduced by conj. so that is found when the sub­ject of this clause is not the same as the subject of the principal clause. The predicate is expressed by may or can + Infinitive and rules of sequence of tenses are observed:

• Leave the door open so that the light may show you the way.

• He opened the door a little so that he could hear what the wom­en were saying.

If the verb in clause of purpose is negative should* + Infinitive is used:

• I turned so that he should not see my face.

Sometimes conj. lest (чтобы не) is used in such clauses, in this case should* + Infinitive is used and the rules of sequence of tenses are not observed:

• He withdrew his eyes lest she should read them.

Unreality in Adverbial Clauses of Comparison

In clauses of comparison with conj. as if or as though Past Indefinite (or were) or Past Perfect is used:

• He asked me the question as if the answer were really impor­tant to him.

• They passed her in silence as though she did not exist.

Note: in present-day English the form were is replaced by was in singular:

• He behaves as if he was the boss here.

Past Perfect (-Continuous) shows that the action of subordinate clause precedes the action of the principal clause:

• Bob gazed at him as though he had not heard.

If the action of the subordinate clause follows the action of the principal clause would*+Infinitive is used and rules of sequence of tenses are not observed:

• She began to weep as though her heart would break.

Note: compare clause of comparison in Russian and in English:

Она смотрела на меня так, словно не узнавала меня.	She looked at me as if she did not recognise me.
Он говорил о фильме так, будто он сам его видел.	He spoke of the film as if he had seen it.