Subjunctive II and the Conditional Mood Revision

Ex. 44. Replace the infinitives by the correct form of the Oblique mood.

1. Oh, that she never (to come) to see it again! 2. But for the promise, she never (to come). 3. If only he (to be) free this week! He (to be) your untiring guide around the city. 4. Oh, I (not to make) the mistake! Everything (to look) different now. 5. If only we (can avoid) misunderstandings! It (to make) things so much simpler in future! 6. If you (to warn) me before I (can avoid) the mistake! 7. "If mother (to cry)! It (to be) better," Lanny thought. 8. Sarie tried to see herself as a coloured person, "If she (to be) coloured and Lanny white? How she (to feel)?" 9. If Lanny (to read) the letter as soon as it came! He (can wire) and (put) Celia off. 10. If Lanny (can go) straight to his house and (walk) in! What a pleasant surprise it (to be)! 11. If Lanny (to be) on that lorry. He (to be) back home over an hour now.

Ex. 45. Translate into English.

1. Если бы он был здоров! Он бы ни минуты не остался дома. 2. Если бы она знала раньше о вашей поездке! Она послала бы с вами подарки своим друзьям. 3. Если бы мы только могли убедить его не уезжать! Мы сейчас уже завершали (завершили) бы эту работу. 4. Если бы я слышал прогноз погоды! Я захватил бы плащ. 5. Если бы была хоть малейшая возможность! Они бы обязательно ухватились за нее. 6. Если бы вы не сомневались, что он говорил правду! Насколько бы вам обоим было легче и проще все эти годы! 7. Ах, если бы я только мог остаться здесь с вами! Мы бы вместе могли отправиться вниз по Волге. 8. Если бы нам не нужно было так торопиться! Я уверен, с ним бы этого не произошло. 9. Было бы благоразумнее с вашей стороны обратиться к врачу немедленно. Вы бы не были сейчас в больнице. 10. Было бы неплохо прокатиться на лодке. Мы бы совсем не чувствовали жары.

§5 Conditional sentences

I Sentences of real condition.

In the principal clause of a complex sentence the Future Indicative is used, while in the subordinate clause of real condition the Present Indicative or the Imperative Mood is used.

e. g. If you ask him, he will help.

II Sentences of unreal condition.

In the principal clause of this kind of sentences the Conditional Mood is used and in the subordinate clause of unreal condition Subjunctive II is used. In both clauses the Oblique Moods usually have the same tense-forms.

e. g. If you knew him better, you wouldn't think so.

If you hadn't stopped in time, you would have got into the accident.

Note I The conjunction ‘if’has several equivalents:

a) in case has the same meaning as ‘if’ but it is less common in colloquial speech.

b) unless has the meaning of ‘if +not’ and is more emphatic. The ‘unless’ clause usually comes second.

e. g. He would come in case he knew your address.

I would have missed the train unless the taxi had arrived earlier.

Note II The same mood-forms are used in complex sentences with the subordinate clause of concession:

e. g. Even if (though) he were here, he wouldn't help us.

Even if he had convinced her then, she wouldn't have agreed.

Note III Sometimes to emphasize the absence of the necessary circumstances inverted word order is used and conjunction ‘if’ is omitted.

e. g. Had you seen this film, you would have enjoyed it immensely.