Oblique (Indirect) Moods

The function of the oblique moods is to represent something in the speaker’s mind not as a real fact but as a wish, purpose, supposition, doubt or contradiction, problematic or contrary to fact. When the speaker expresses his wish by using one of the oblique moods, he merely communicates to the hearer what he considers desirable. This is the main difference between the oblique moods and the imperative. When using the imperative mood the speaker directly urges the person addressed to fulfill his order or request.

Be quiet!	Here I want to produce an immediate effect, to bring about some actual changes in the existing state of things; I want a noisy person to become quiet as the result of my urging him to be so.
I wish you were quiet.	Here I merely inform the hearer of what I consider desirable, indicating at the same time that my wish contradicts the actual state of things (= you are not quiet).
I wish it were spring all the year round.	Here I communicate to the hearer a desire of mine which is a matter of mere imagination and can never be fulfilled.
It is impossible that he should have said such a thing.	Here I express my doubt with regard to his having said such a thing.
If it were not so cold, I should go out.	It is cold and I don’t go out; I only imagine the possibility of my going out if the weather were different from what it actually is.
It is necessary that you should go there.	Here I make a statement of what I consider to be indispensable, leaving the question of its realization open.

There are four oblique moods in Modern English, of which two are synthetical and two analytical.

The synthetical moods are: the Subjunctive I and the Subjunctive II.

The analytical moods are: the Conditional and the Suppositional.

Exercises:

1. Define the forms given in bold type and say what they express: 1) facts, 2) commands and requests, 3) non-facts.

1. Roy unpacked three bundles of pelts from his rucksack and lay them under the mattress of the brassbed.

2. Lead me somewhere away from everybody.

3. “I wish I were with you,” she said.

4. “If you sight him, Fleur, stop dead.”

5. She watched the convulsive movement of his thin brown hands, clasped as if he were standing at ease, and her whole heart went out to him…

6. “Please,” I begged, “don’t be polite.”

7. “I’ll go down to the corner and get some dinner for both of us. Do leave me.”

8. If a man were made of glass, he would still be visible.

9. If you consider it right, say so.

Find in an English text:

• 3 sentences with verbs in the Indicative Mood expressing actions or states presented as facts.

• 3 sentences with verbs in the Imperative Mood expressing actions or states presented as commands or requests.

• 3 sentences with verbs in the Indirect (Oblique) Mood expressing actions or states presented as non-facts (wish, purpose, unreal condition, etc.).