Oblique Moods

The following text-books may extend your knowledge in the given area:

Прокофьева Е.В. Тесты по грамматике английского языка― Мн.: МГЛУ, 2004;

Петрашкевич .П., Дубовик М.Е. Сослагательное наклонение в современном английском языке. Минск, 1995 (pp. 19-26)

Ex.1. Replace the Infinitive by the correct form of Subjunctive II. Write the number of the sentence and the form you use. Comment on the use of Subjunctive II mood form.

1. I do wish she (to drop) those little mannerisms of hers!

2. It’s time we (to have) a bit of fun around here.

3. If only I (to have) a watch on me or a ring!

4. I’d rather you (not to handle) it, if you don’t mind.

5. On one or two special occasions in the later years of their married life it seemed almost as though he (to want) to miss the train simply in order to intensify the poor woman’s suffering.

6. This man Perkins is becoming over complacent. It’s high time I (to teach) him a lesson.

7. He pretended not to have heard, as if the compliment (to be) purely formal.

8. But, oh, how she wished she (can live) in Paris, and be close to her daughter!

Ex.2. Paraphrase the sentences so as to use Subjunctive II after the verb to wish!

Example: ― It’s a pity you’re busy these days.

I wish you were not busy these days.

1. It’s a pity you can’t see your children again.

2. I regret not having come to you more often.

3. What a pity you don’t get on with your work.

4. I’m disappointed you argue with me all the time.

5. It’s a pity you were not more attentive in class.

6. He regretted not having stopped to look at Fleur’s portrait

Ex.3. Make the statements unreal using Subjunctive II and the Conditional Mood in complex sentences with a clause of unreal condition.

1. I didn’t know I was going to meet you. I didn’t put on my best suit.

2. He is not a good pupil. He makes so many mistakes.

3. I asked you to do me a favour. The whole thing is so urgent.

4. He didn’t change the oil. The engine seized.

5. I don’t have enough money. I don’t travel.

Ex.4. Open the brackets using Subjunctive I or the Suppositional Mood. Write the number of the sentence and the form you use.

1. It’s necessary that she (to pay) us a visit.

2. The order was that the children (to stay) away from the house until they were invited there.

3. He insisted from the first time I met him that I (to call) him and his wife by their first names.

4. The teacher required that the students (to read) this rule.

5. She sent a message to some friends asking them to look in so that she (not to be) alone with Ed in the evening.

6. “I’d like your young boy, Dinny”, said her grandmother. “(to be) yours a happy marriage”.

7. I had a felling of terror lest he never (to be) able to play in public again.

8. And what if he (to change) his mind?

9. “Far (to be) it from me”, he said, “to interfere with your arrangements”.

10. He always admires the right thing, whatever the right thing (to be).

Ex.5. Make the condition less probable using the Suppositional Mood:

1. If you change your mind, I’ll be at the Haywain.

2. If I lose you now, it would be worse than before.

3. If the weather changes for the better, they will go to the country.

4. If the plane goes, you’ll be certain to miss it now.

Ex.6. Rewrite the following sentences using the required mood form. Begin each sentence in the way indicated.

1. It’s a pity you don’t visit your friend more often.

I wish...

2. Mr. Bohlen’s insistence was for Knipe to go to work at once on this prodigious task.

Mr. Bohlen insisted...

3. I had better think it out from the beginning.

It’s time...

4. She seemed to listen for the repetition of some round.

It seemed as though...

5. It’s raining. We can’t go for a walk now.

But for...

6. We didn’t want to be late, that’s why we took a taxi.

We took a taxi lest...

Ex.7. Correct the errors in the following sentences:

1. I wish you brought your sister with you.

2. He seemed nervous lest he should not set his son a bad example.

3. It is important that this letter were sent as soon as possible.

4. Now, children, it’s high time you had been washed and dressed.

5. If he had missed the aircraft he should have cabled.

6. She acts as if the world owe her a living.

7. I wish I told him about it two days ago.

8. If only I wouldn’t have listened to Trudy!

Ex.8. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English:

1. Он боялся, что произведет плохое впечатление.

2. О ней всегда говорили так, как будто ее там не было.

3. Если бы я задержался еще на один момент, я не знаю, что я мог бы наговорить.

4. Жаль, что Вы не сказали мне об этом сразу.

5. Пьеса понравилась бы мне больше, если бы она не была такой длинной.

6. Я буду у себя дома весь вечер на случай, если ты передумаешь.

7. Я бы хотел, чтобы ты поменьше курил.

8. Нам пора приняться за работу.

9. Мне предложили написать рецензию на эту книгу.

SYNTAX

Ex.1. Write out the object, state its kind and say by what it is expressed.

1. The doorway was occupied by a bulky man with a brown attaché case.

2. Remind the newspaper office to cover the possible evacuation of houses.

3. The old couple have lived a long and happy life.

4. She pretended to understand.

5. We have often heard him whisper something to himself.

6. He waited for his friend to speak first.

Ex. 2. Write out the attribute and say by what it is expressed.

1. Their next season's crop was threatened, too.

2. Oh, that never-to-be-forgotten summer in the Golden Valley!

3. We have many questions to discuss before we part.

4. Samuel Chealy, the then President, was definitely against the deal.

5. We wouldn't run the risk of being too late.

6. This is a problem for you to solve.

Ex. 3. Write out the adverbial modifier, state its kind and say by what it is expressed.

1. Mary descended the slope very easily.

2. In case of any emergency, press the knob on your right.

3. Bill was much too exhausted from his night vigil to be of any further help.

4. The lady lived in a large gloomy house in one of London's higher class squares.

5. The beautiful Caroline looked unhappy at being ignored.

6. The man stared at her, his face pale with anxiety.

Ex.4. Paraphrase the following sentences using predicative constructions, underline the constructions, identify them and state their functions.

1. You can't expect that all people will take your words for granted.

2. It happened so that he had to speak before a crowd in the square.

3. We watched the boys while they were shaking apples from the trees.

4. The trouble is that he doesn't know Dr Blake personally.

5. His thoughts were far away. He didn't notice what was going on around him.

6. I was anxious. They might give me that job.

7. If you want that a thing should be well done, do it yourself.

8. When the lunch was over, he seated himself in a wicker chair.

9. It seemed as if he had forgotten that she was present.

10. I can't solve this problem. It is too difficult for me.

Ex. 5. Make the sentences emphatic using inversion.

1. The radio was turned on so softly that we couldn't hear anything.

2. The kittens jumped up.

3. As Jane looked soft, there must be strength in her.

4. He felt extraordinarily helpless.

5. It had never occurred to her before that she had more sense than Jane.

6. She wouldn't have been retired if it had not been for her quarrel with her boss.

7. They went out.

Ex. 6. Translate using inversion if necessary.

1. Вы хотите встретиться с ним? – Нет. – И мы тоже.

2. Он говорит по-английски с акцентом. – И вы тоже.

3. Похоже, он очень устал за день. – Да, это так.

4. Вы наверняка хорошо пообедали. – Да, это так.

5. Вон наш автобус!

Ex.7. Join the given sentences to make a compound one. Use conjunctions in brackets. Define the type of the conjunction.

1. There is something awfully consoling about you. You make things so simple. (―)

2. There was nothing offensive in her words. He put his own construction on her change of tone. (but)

3. He ripped open the envelope. A thick enclosure fell out on the table. (and)

4. He recovered from his panic of the night. Or he pretended to have. (either)

5. The blue upholstery won't go with the yellow staircarpet. It will not go with the brown woodwork, either. (nor)

Ex.8. Analyse the following complex sentences. State the type of the subordinate clause.

1. Jane turned to Nellie, who sat upright in her chair by the window.

2. They sounded as if they were about to accept our condition.

3. I have told you my story so that you may judge me for what I am.

4. It was quite clear that things were not that bad.

5. His hand pressed stronger so that mine gave way.

6. This is where I used to live.

7. It’s a long time since I heard from John.

8. She looked at me as if I were a ghost.

9. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.

10. Should you be in Kiev, give us a ring.

11. He spoke in whispers lest the servants (should) hear him.

12. He advanced such convincing arguments that he was elected unanimously.

13. It is required that all (should) work hard.

14. We require that all (should) work hard.

15. Our requirement is that all (should) work hard.

16. Do you accept our requirement that all (should) work hard?