The suppositional mood

1. Independent Use

The Suppositional Mood is used (only in present form) in clauses of condition to show that the action is not likely to take place. Such clauses may be called clauses of problematic condition.

If smb. should say smth. Should smb. say smth.

smb. will do smth.

If you should see her, give her my love. (Если вы все же увидите ее, передайте ей привет о меня.)

Should you see her, give her my love.

2. Dependent Use

2.1. Parallel Use of the Suppositional Mood and Subjunctive I

	{		necessary		smb. should do smth. smb. do smth.
			important
		is	desirable
It		was	requested	that
		will be	demanded
			advisable
			arranged
			ordered

It is necessary that you should come (come) a couple of days before the others. (Необходимо, чтобы вы приехали на несколько дней раньше других.)

It was desirable that everybody should be (be) present. (Было желательно, чтобы присутствовали все.)

to think to believe to consider to find	it	necessary		smb. should do smth. smb. do smth.
		important
		desirable	that
		advisable
		better

I find it necessary that you should come (come). (Я нахожу необходимым, чтобы вы пришли.)

I thought it desirable that he should come (come). (Я счел желательным, чтобы он пришел.)

to suggest to demand to insist to order to arrange to request

that

smb. should do smth. smb. do smth.

He suggested that we should begin (begin) at once. (Он предложил нам немедленно начать.)

He will insist that we should do (do) it ourselves. (Он будет настаивать, чтобы мы это сделали сами.)

It was arranged that the exam should take (take) place on the 2nd. (Экзамен был назначен на 2-е число.)

order demand suggestion recommendation wish motion rule arrangement request

is was will be

that

smb. should do smth. smb. do smth.

The order was that no one should leave (leave). (Приказ состоял в том, чтобы никто не уходил.)

The motion is that the meeting should be (be) postponed. (Предложение заключается в том, чтобы перенести собрание.)

order demand suggestion recommendation wish motion rule arrangement request

that

smb. should do smth. smb. do smth.

He gave an order that nobody should leave (leave) the room. (Он отдал приказ, чтобы никто не выходил из комнаты.)

They made a motion that the meeting should be (be) postponed. (Они внесли предложение перенести собрание.)

to do smth.

lest

smb. should do smth. smb. do smth.

Do it at once lest she should change (change) her mind. (Сделай это сейчас же, чтобы она не передумала.)

He drew a plan for me lest I should lose (lose) my way. (Он нарисовал мне план, чтобы я не заблудился.)

* There is a tendency in Modern English to use “so that smb. may (can) do smth.”; “so that smb. may (can) not do smth.” instead of “lest smb. should do smth.”

to do smth.	so that in order that	smb. may (can) do smth. smb. may (can) not do smth.
		smb. might (could) do smb. might (could) not do smth.

I’ll cut them some sandwiches so that they may(can) eat them on the train. (Я приготовлю им бутерброды, чтобы они могли поесть (поели) в поезде.)

She gave me a dollar so that I might (could) buy some magazines. (Она дала мне доллар, чтобы я могла купить несколько журналов.)