Types of tone
declarative mood
Indicates that an action or state is consistent with the facts
Trees turn green in spring.
The yellow leaves are falling in the autumn wind.
The moon is peeping through the window at the sleeping girl.
imperative mood
Indicates call, command, request, warning, prohibition, etc.
Subjunctive
Expresses an assumption or speculation about an action. It means an action that is contrary to the facts or has a low probability of happening.
I wish I were a white cloud in the sky.
Mother told me to put on the sweater lest I should catch a cold.
Not to be moved by the sight would require a heart of stone.
The use of subjunctive mood in conditional sentences
Contrary to the current facts
Conditional clause [if subject, past tense of verb (the past tense of be verb, use were)]
Result main sentence [subject would/should/might/could, etc. verb base form]
contrary to future facts
Conditional clause [A-form: simple past tense] [B-form: were indefinite] [C-form: should verb original form]
Result main clause [would/should/might/could, etc. verb base form]
You must memorize these three forms
Contrary to past facts
Conditional clause [if subject had past participle]
Result main clause [Subject would/should/might/could, etc. have past participle]
The use of subjunctive mood in conditional sentences
subtopic
Contrary to the current facts
He wouldn't feel so cold if he were indoors.
I am sorry I am busy just now. If I had time, I would certainly go to the movies.
If they treated me as a slave, I had to resign.
If wishes were horses , beggars might ride.
contrary to future facts
If he were here this evening, we would play cards.
If she were to marry Jack, she would be happy.
If he should have enough money, he would buy the whole building for his wife.
If it snowed tomorrow, I would stay at home.
Contrary to past facts
If we hadn't made adequate preparations, the conference wouldn't have been so successful.
The flood would have caused great damage to the local people if the reservoir hadn't been built.
If his advice had been good, it would have been accepted.
If ha had known it , he would have told me .
The predicate of the subjunctive conditional sentence can be used in the continuous tense, which means "if... is..."
If she were living a hard life, we should be responsible for it.
If human beings were not killing each other, we could be living a happy life.
If you hadn't been studying so hard, you might have failed the exam.
When there are were, had, should, and could in the conditional sentence, you can omit if and put were, had, should, could before the subject to form an inversion sentence.
Were it necessary, I might change my job.
Had you informed me earlier,I wouldn't have assigned the contract.
Should I have time ,I would call on aher .
Could you meet Mary, you should not be able to recognize her.
In addition to declarative sentences, the main clause in the subjunctive mood can also be a question or imperative sentence.
If she had everything, would she not be happy?
If he had owned the whole world, how happy he would have been!
If you were man enough, don't give up.
If you should need help, please tell me.
If you gave up the plan, what should I do?
Intricate time conditional sentences: (The actions of the subjunctive conditional clause and the main clause occur at different times, so choose the appropriate subjunctive form)
Had I taken my umbrella with me this morning, I should not be wet now.
If I were you , I wouldn't have missed the film last night .
If you had spoken to him last time you saw him, you would know what to do now.
If the ship had left at noon it would be passing through the canal now.
If they had left home in early morning, they would arrive in half an hour.
If you hesitated this moment, you might suffer in the future.
If Marry should arrive today, she must have started three days ago.
Implied conditional dummy sentences [use a layer-hopping or indirect way to express deep-level conditions] Words commonly used in this situation include: with, without, but for, or, but, otherwise, even, in case of , what if (what if...), etc.
But for your help, we couldn't have succeeded.
They wouldn't have reached the agreement so easily without that common ground.
Under such circumstances i would probably have done the same.
I would do so in your place.
Given more time, I would do it better.
I would have been deceived even in his place.
Cooked a little longer, the meat would be more delicious.
Used in the object clause after the verb wish
Contrary to the current facts, [use past tense [be uses were]
I wish she were here zt the moment.
I wish I studied better than any other student in my class.
I wish he did best in everything that he wanted to .
Contrary to future facts, [use the original form of verbs such as would, should, could, might, etc.]
I wish you wouldn't be so nervous.
He wished she might do better next time.
he wishes that she would be the happiest girl in this world.
Contrary to past facts, [use had past participle or have past participle such as would/could/might]
I wish she had taken my advice.
I wish I had never seen her.
Sophia wished that she could have solved the problem all by herself.
Use the subjunctive mood structure after if only and would that. It means; "It would be nice if..."
If only she had known where to find you.
If i could speak several foreign languages.
Would that I had seen her before she died.
The predicate verb uses the past tense to express unfulfilled wishes in the present, and the past perfect tense expresses unfulfilled wishes in the past.
Would that I were young again.
If only he were more cautious.
Subjunctive mood is used in object clauses after suggest, order, demand, etc.
In the object clauses after the verbs expressing attitude, propose, command, request, desire, insist, require, decide, promise, arrange, ask (request), determine, recommend, advise, intend, prefer, direct, etc. [should verb original form]
They intended that the news (should) be suppressed.
He advised that the doctor (should ) be sent for .
Sometimes she would suggest that I should be saving some of the money.
She insisted that the seats (should) be booked in advance.
Used in subject clauses, predicative clauses and appositive clauses after nouns such as advice, demand, order etc.
Such nouns include; advice, demand, order, necessity, decision, proposal, requirement, suggestion, recommendation, preference, request, motion, desire, etc. The predicate uses the verb base form or should verb base form
The demand is that the assignment should be handed in today.
He issued the order that the troops (should) withdraw at once.
It is my desire that all the members of the family (should) gather once a year.
Their suggestion that a treaty (should ) be signed was put forward by a young boy.
The subjunctive mood is used in clauses after necessary, important, etc.
The predicate of the sentence after the adjectives important, necessary, urgent, essential, appropriate, desirable, insistent, vital, advisable, preferable, proper, etc. is [should] verb base form
It is necessary that some immediate effort (should) be made.
It is essential that the program (should) be loaded into computer.
She was anxious that his daughter (should) be taken good care of.
The usage of adjectives expressing surprise, regret, disappointment and other emotions is the same as above. Meaning: "As expected, unexpectedly"
Such words include: amazing, odd, strange, surprising, astonishing, annoying, upsetting, embarrassing, discouraging, disoppointing, incredible, tragic, a pity, a shame, etc.
It is amazing that he should have learned so much in such a short time.
I am surprised that he should have been so rude to you.
It is incredible that Jane should have finished her paper so soon.
It was astonishing that she should have kept the secret from her husband all through their lives.
It is strange that he should speak ill of his brother.
In the sentence after It is (high, about) time (the predicate verb is in past tense)
It is high time that we were off.
It is time that we went to school.
It is time that somebody taught you to behave yourself.
It is quite time she should wash her clothes. (should not be omitted)
Used in predicative clauses or concession adverbial clauses introduced as if/though. To express the opposite of the present, use the past tense; to express the opposite of the past, use the past perfect tense; to express the opposite of the future, use the past future tense.
He talks as if he knew all about it.
She looks as if he were seriouly ill.
I felt as though we had known each other for years.
He talks about pyramids as though he had seen them himself.
Used in sentences after would rather/would sooner, the predicate should be in the past tense.
I'd rather you paid money yourself.
I would sooner she painted the wall green next time.
I"d rather she had done that .
I would sooner you didn't do anything about it for the time being.
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