Subjunctive II in parenthetical clauses

He carefully constructed, as it were, a huge sandwich.

The Franklins live in a small, as it were, exquisite house.

Jim Radcliffe became her idol, as it were, the man we all wanted to be.

Meaning

Examples

Consequence based on implied condition

1. It would be nice to have a barbecue.

2. You wouldn’t be much use in a crisis.

3. It would have been a good idea to notify us in advance of your intentions.

4. It would be easy for me to give employees advice on how to improve their performance or behaviour.

5. I’d spend more on new technology.

6. I’d reduce the workforce.

7. I’d wait another day and then phone them.

8. I’d award myself a large pay rise.

9. I’d start looking at new areas of the world to do business.

10. I would set up operations in Latin America.

11. I’d reduce bureaucracy and cut defence spending.

Type of subordinate clause

Examples

Adverbial clause of condition

1. No one would pay taxes if they didn’t have to.

2. What would you do if you lost your job?

3. If I had money to burn, I’d just put it in the bank.

4. He’d be welcome if he had a civil tongue in his head.

5. If I didn’t keep late hours, I wouldn’t sleep so late in the morning.

Adverbial clause of condition

6. I would have married her even if she had been penniless.

Type of subordinate clause

Examples

Subject clauses

1. It is advisable that everyone should have a map.

2. It is better that he should hear it from you.

3. It is essential that he should be prepared for this.

4. It is only right that he should have a share.

5. It is amazing that he should have said nothing about the murder.

6. It’s vital that we should meet.

7. It is necessary that every member should inform himself of these rules.

Object clauses

(suggestion, demand, requirement)

1. I asked Jaime the best way of getting round town and he suggested that I should hire a car.

2. He said the boss was out and suggested that I should call back at 5.30.

3. He said she seemed ideal for the job, but suggested that I should check her references list.

4. He said the interview would be easy and suggested that I should do some background research into the company.

5. He ordered that Ann should go.

6. He ordered that the goods should be sent by air.

7. He commanded that the army should advance.

8. He requested that the matter should be kept secret.

9. I suggest that you should sell it.

10. He suggested that we should try homeopathic remedies.

11. «Are you suggesting that we should just ignore the problem?» «No, absolutely not.»

12. They stipulated that the best materials should be used.

13. I propose that the secretary should send in a report.

14. I propose that a report should be sent in.

15. They urged that relief work should be given priority.

16. She determined/was determined that he should study music.

17. She insisted that he should study law.

18. She advised that the gate should be kept locked.

19. They agreed that the roof should be repaired.

20. He arranged that I should go abroad.

Object clause

(verbs, adjectives, participles expressing fear)

1. He is anxious that classes should start/should be started at once.

2. He began to be worried lest he should have met with some accident.

3. God forbid that he should die during the operation.

4. She was worried lest he should tell someone what had happened.

Adverbial clause of purpose

1. He wore a mask so that no one should recognize him.

2. He dared not spend the money lest someone should ask where he had got it.

Adverbial clause of concession

Adverbial clause of condition

1. If you should have any difficulty in getting spare parts ring this number.

2. If these biscuits should arrive in a damaged condition please the factory at once.

3. If the pain should return take another of these pills.

4. If the phone should ring, don’t answer it.

5. Extra supplies will be on hand, should they be needed.