The Oblique Moods

Subjunctive I

Subjunctive II

Suppositional

Conditional

-speak

Should speak

I, he, she, we, you,

Spoke, had spoken, were

Should -have spoken

Would have spoken

they speak

speaking, had been speaking

-be speaking

Might be speaking

-have been speaking

Could have been speaking

is used in:

is used in:

is used in

is used in:

1. Subjunctive

1. Object clauses after the verb

1. Subjunctive clauses introduced

I. Simple sentences with implied condition:

clauses introduced

"to wish":

by "it":

/ should like to speak to you.

by "it":

John wishes his mother were

It is necessary that the place should

2. Zero conditional:

It is necessary that

here.

be cleaned.

If +Present Simple +Present

he go shopping

-I would buy-Future

If vou heat ice it melts.

today.

1 wish -I bought -Present

2. Object clauses after verbs: to

I. Real Condition (Present Indefinite +Future

-I had bought -Past

suggest, to order, to demand, to

Indefinite):

2. Object clauses

act.

If I have time I shall help in your work.

after verbs:

2. Clauses of unreal comparison

He demanded that the man should

II. Unreal Condition (Past Ind. +should,

to suggest,

introduced by "as if, as though":

leave the country at once.

would, might, could +Indefinite Infinitive:

to insist,

Carry played her part as if she

a) If I had time, I should help you in your work.

to demand,

were a true actress all her life.

3. Object clauses introduced by

b) Had I time...(inversion!)

to order,

"lest" after expressions of fear.

Ill Unreal Condition Forever (Past Perf. +

to recommend.

3. Subject clauses after "it is

/ am afraid lest I should he

should, would, might, could +Perf. Infinitive)

The teacher

time", "it is high time":

mistaken.

a) If I had had time I should have helped you

demands that he

It is high time you rans те up.

in your work

work hard.

4. Adverbial clauses of purpose

b) Had I had time...

3. Synthetical forms are mostly used in

4. Subordinate clauses of unreal

introduced by "lest":

IV Mixed:

condition.

We shall start early lest we should

I+III If I am as clever as you say I woiddhave

poetrv and official

If I were von I should act.

be late.

been rich now.

documents:

differently.

II+III If you knew me better you would not

Though all the world he false still

5. After "though, although,

have said that.

whatever, whoever, however":

III+II If I had had your advantages I'd be

will I be true.

However hard it should rain we

better off now.

shall have to go.

II+I If he missed the bus he can V be here in

6. Conditional sentences.

time.

If you should meet him, tell him to come.