And Subjunctive Moods.

§ 1 Mood. General Information

Mood is the form of the verb that shows in what relation to reality the speaker places the action expressed by the predicate verb.

There are the following three moods in English:

• the Indicative Mood,

• the Imperative Mood, and

• the Subjunctive Mood.

The Indicative Mood presents actions as real facts: We are happy. No one has washed the dishes yet. They invited me to the party.

The Indicative Mood has the categories of tense, aspect, voice, number and person (see Part II): Jane hasn't been here for a year. He is going to college. He can't be relied on.

The Imperative Mood expresses a command or request. The verb in the Imperative Mood has practically only one form which coincides with the stem of the verb: Introduce me to your friend. Don't speak to me in such a tone!

The verb let is used, as a rule, with imperative first and third person expressions, as Let us assemble in the hall! or Let every one sign his name.

The Subjunctive Mood of a verb indicates action or state as supposed or imagined or as contrary to the fact:

If only I had much money! (but I don’t have it) – Если бы у меня были (сейчас) деньги! (но у меня их нет)

If only I hadn’t failed my English exam! (but I failed) – Если бы только я не провалил свой экзамен по английскому языку! (но я провалил).

§ 2 The Subjunctive Mood

1. The forms of the Subjunctive Mood.

The most common forms of the Subjunctive Mood may be referred to as the Present Subjunctive, the Past Subjunctive and the Perfect Subjunctive.

The Present Subjunctive Mood has the same form as the Infinitive without to:

Though all the world be false, still will I be true.

In complex sentences after that-clause it may also have the form of the auxiliaries should, would, may (might) or shall (now very seldom) and the Infinitive of the notional verb:

I recommend that the plans (should) be carried through. (The verb should is often omitted).

The Past Subjunctive has the same form as the Past Indefinite, except the verb to be that has the form were for all the persons singular and plural:

I wish he worked harder. (but he doesn’t)

I wish he were less remote.(but he is not)

I wish you were here. (but you are not)

The Perfect Subjunctive has the same forms as the Past Perfect:

If only he had worked harder (but he didn’t)

If I had visited him yesterday! (but I didn’t)

He speaks about it as if he had seen it himself (but he didn’t)

2. The use of the Subjunctive Mood.

The Subjunctive Mood may be used nowadays in simple sentences to express hope, wish or prayer (the Present Subjunctive) as in:

God save the Queen! God forgive you! Manners be hanged!

But mostly the Subjunctive Mood is used in complex sentences:

• in that-clauses expressing resolution, recommendation, command or necessity (the Present Subjunctive):

The judge demands that the prisoner tell the truth.

I insist that he (should) meet me;

• inif-clauses and after the verb to wish (see Unit 7) to denote an unreal condition referring to the present or future or to the past if the verb in the if-clause expresses an action simultaneous with the action in the principal clause (the Past Subjunctive):

If I were young!

I wish I were a gipsy.

I wished he were less remote.

He wished she would stop thanking him.

• in conditional sentences both in the subordinate clause (if-clause) to express an unreal condition, and in the principal (main) clause to express an unreal consequence (see Units 2-6):