Conditional Sentences. The Third Conditional.

Conditional sentences are complex sentences with a subordinate clause of condition. Adverbial clauses of condition are introduced by the conjunctions if, unless, in case, suppose (that), supposing (that), on condition that, provided (that), providing (that).

Conditional sentences may be divided into two groups: sentences of real condition (open condition) and sentences of unreal condition (hypothetical condition).

The Third Conditional is used to talk about unlikely situations in the past. These sentences describe hypothetical actions. The action of the if-clause is represented to the speaker as contradicting reality; consequently the action of the main clause, which depended on that unreal condition, could not be realized either.

In such sentences of unreal condition we find the Subjunctive Mood (Past Perfect) in the if-clause and the Conditional Mood, or the Analytical Subjunctive (Future Perfect-in-the-Past) in the main clause.

e.g. If I hadn’t taken an umbrella, I would have got wet.

I could have said ‘yes’ if Bruce had asked me.

Conditional Sentences. The Mixed Conditional.

Conditional sentences are complex sentences with a subordinate clause of condition. Adverbial clauses of condition are introduced by the conjunctions if, unless, in case, suppose (that), supposing (that), on condition that, provided (that), providing (that).

Conditional sentences may be divided into two groups: sentences of real condition (open condition) and sentences of unreal condition (hypothetical condition).

The Mixed Conditional is used to talk about unlikely situations in the past, present or future. These sentences describe hypothetical actions. The action of the if-clause is represented to the speaker as contradicting reality; consequently the action of the main clause, which depends on this unreal condition, cannot be realized either.

In such sentences of unreal condition when a person’s present characteristic affects the events in the past we find the Subjunctive Mood (Past Indefinite) in the if-clause and the Conditional Mood, or the Analytical Subjunctive (Future Perfect-in-the-Past) in the main clause.

e.g. If you were less indifferent to him, you would have noticed that there was something happening to him.

In such sentences of unreal condition when a past event has an effect in the present we find the Subjunctive Mood (Past Perfect) in the if-clause and the Conditional Mood, or the Analytical Subjunctive (Future Simple-in-the-Past) in the main clause.

e.g. If you hadn’t invited me, I wouldn’t be here now.

The Subjunctive Mood with the combination I wish…

The Subjunctive Mood is used in object clauses when the predicate of the principal clause is expressed by the verb wish in the Indicative Mood, for example, after the combination I wish. So, we express a wish for a different action or a regret about an action.

The Subjunctive Mood (Past Indefinite) is used to express simultaneity of the action in the object clause with that of the principal clause. The most common meaning is a wish for a situation to be different.

e.g. He wished he had someone to talk to.

I wish I were young again.

The Subjunctive Mood (Past Perfect) is used to express priority of the action in the object clause to that of the principal clause. The most common meaning is a regret about some previous actions. There is only one way of rendering such sentences in Russian, namely Как жаль, что… . Thus, where the verb in the object clause is affirmative in English, it is negative in Russian, and vice versa.

e.g. He wished he hadn’t taken her advice.

I wish I had not done it.

The Analytical Subjunctive Mood, or the Conditional Mood, (Future Simple-in-the-Past) is used to express succession of the action in the object clause to that of the principal clause. The most common meaning is a wish for a following situation to be different.

e.g. I wish you would stop arguing.