Lecture 10 Subjunctive mood

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Lecture 10 Subjunctive mood

1. Use of subjunctive mood
2. Be-subjunctive
3. Were-subjunctive
4. Other ways of expressing hypothetical meanings

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• What is Mood?
• Mood is a finite verb form that indicates whether
  an utterance expresses a fact, a command or
  request, or a non-fact and hypothesis.
• the indicative mood
• the imperative mood
• the subjunctive mood

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• The yellow leaves are falling in the autumn wind.
• Keep off the grass.
• I wish I were a white cloud.
• If she were to marry Jack, she would be happy.

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Subjunctive mood remnants of Old English

• 1. Use
• Hypothetical meaning
• Non-factual meaning
• 2. mostly in formal and literary language
  regulations and legal documents, or poetry etc.

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3. Two types

• BE-subjunctive realized by the base form of a
  verb
• WERE-subjunctive realized by the verb were

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BE-subjunctive

• 1. In certain that-clause
• to express a command, decision, suggestion, etc.
  or express the idea of necessity, importance etc.

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• Regulations require that officers not enter the
  crime scene without protective clothing.
• She insisted that she pay her own way.
• It is important that she talk to him in person.
• We were faced with the demand that this tax be
  abolished.

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• after such verbs as decide, demand, insist, move,
  order, prefer, propose, recommend, request,
  require, suggest, vote, etc.
• and after such adjectives as advisable,
  appropriate, desirable, essential, fitting,
  imperative, important, necessary, obligatory,
  proper, etc.
• and after such nouns as decision, demand,
  proposal, instruction, order, requirement,
  resolution, etc.

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• Compare
• He advised that the doctor be sent for.
• It is advisable that the doctor be sent for.
• His advice was that the doctor be sent for.

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• It is vital that every applicant complete the
  form in triplicate. (subjunctive)
• It is vital that every applicant should complete
  the form in triplicate. (should infinitive)
• It is vital for every applicant to complete the
  form in triplicate. (for subject
  to-infinitive)

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• ? He insisted that he ___ (involve) in the case.
• ? He suggested that his friends pride ___
  (prevent) him accepting the offer.
• ? A Norwegian biologist, Gulberg, decided that
  this problem of circular movement ___ (be) worth
  investigation.

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• It is important for him to be nominated.
• He advised her to wait for a few weeks.
• May our great motherland live long.

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• 2. In certain adverbial clauses
• in adverbial clauses introduced by if, though,
  whatever, so long as, whether, lest, etc.
• The movie star is wearing sunglasses lest he be
  recognized. should be
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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• Whatever be your reason for that, we shall not
  tolerate your dishonesty. may be
• If the rumor be true, everything is possible.
• Though everyone desert you, I will not.

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• 3. In certain formulaic expressions
• to express a wish,prayer,curse,etc.
• formal and old-fashioned in style
• Long live the People's Republic of China!God
  bless you!So be it.Far be it from me to spoil
  the fun.

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• Be it ever so humble, there is no place like
  home.
• No man loves his fetters, be they made of gold.
• Let justice be done, though heaven fall.
• May all the lovers in the world be couples in the
  end.

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Were-subjunctive

• hypothetical or unreal in meaning
• It has only one form--- were

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• 1. In certain adverbial clauses
• introduced by if, if only, as if, as
  though, etc to denote an unreal condition or
  concession
• If I were you, I would think twice before
  accepting that offer.
• If only I were thin.
• He spoke to me as if I were deaf.
• Though the whole world were against me, I would
  do what I consider as right.
• If I were a bird, I would fly by your window from
  morning to evening without stop, and sing the
  love song in my heart for you.

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• 2. In certain nominal clauses
• in nominal clauses after verbs like wish,
  would rather, suppose, imagine, etc to denote a
  hypothetical situation
• I wish it were spring all the year round. (was)
  I wish I were coming with you. (was)
• Suppose he were to fail. (was)
• Provided that she were sincere with me, I should
  forgive her a lot.

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Some other ways of expressing
hypothetical meanings

• Use of past tense forms of verbs
• a) It is time (that)...
• It is time (that) we left this place.It is high
  time (that) you made up your mind.
• b) I would rather / sooner (that) you / he / they
  ...I'm sure he is keeping something back I'd
  rather he told me the truth.They offered me this
  expensive wine, but frankly I'd rather they had
  offered me some beer.

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• c) If only .
• If only 1 knew her address.If only she had
  listened to my advice.
• If only he hadnt been driving so fast!
• d) ... as if / as though ...
• He behaves as if he owned this place.
• They are acting as if nothing had happened.
• I read an excellent book, it is to me just as if
  I had gained a new friend.
• e) I wish (that)...
• I wish the sun was shining at this moment.I wish
  I hadn't eaten so much last night.

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• 2. Use of past tense modals---hypothesis
• In conditionals
• If she had been invited,she would have attended
  the meeting.If you should change your mind, do
  let me know.
• If only I could speak several languages!

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Subjunctive in if-clauses the most common use

• Present
• If I were tired, I would have a rest.
• Past
• If he had set out earlier, he would have caught
  the early bus.

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• Future
• 1. If I should have time tomorrow, I would go to
  the library.
• 2. If he were to come here this evening, we would
  invite him to attend the party.
• 3. If it rained this afternoon, the football
  match would be postponed until next Saturday.
• In if-clause, the subjunctive mood is used with
  would, could, etc. in the main clause and were in
  the dependent clause.

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• But for his help,I couldn't have achieved
  anything.Given more time, we would do it
  better.We could have won the battle, but we were
  impatient.
• It would be a pity for you to miss the show.
• The same thing, happening in war time, would
  amount to a disaster.
• Reading without thorough comprehension wouldnt
  do you much good.
• implied conditionals

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• If I were you, I wouldnt have missed the film
  last night.
• 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.
• Conditionals of mixed time

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• in other contexts
• That she should forget me so quickly was rather a
  shock.
• Oh that I could see him again!I wish I could see
  him again.
• Would that the flood might never come again!
• To think that he should have deserted his wife
  and children!
• Who would have thought that the man living next
  door should be a hidden terrorist?
• He stepped into a cave and what should he see but
  a tigress with her baby tigers.

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Exercises

• 1. He left orders that nothing ____
  touched until the police arrived here.
• A. be B. ought to be C. must be D. would be
• 2. I was to have made a speech if ____.
• A. I was not called away B. nobody would have
  called me away
• C. I had not been called away D. nobody called me
  away
• 3. If you have really been studying English for
  so long, its
• about time you ____ able to write letters in
  English.
• A. should be B. were C. must be D. are

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• 5. If your car ____ any attention during
  the first 12 month, take it to an authorized
  dealer.
• A. shall need B. should need C. would need
  D. will need
• 6. All of us would have enjoyed the party much
  more if there _ quite such a crowd of people
  there.
• A. weren't B. hasnt been
• C. hadnt been D. wouldn't be
• 7. ____ for the fact that she broke her leg, she
  might have passed the exam.
• A. Had it not been B. Hadnt it been
• C. Was it not D. Were it not

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• 2000 49. All of us would have enjoyed the party
  much more if there___ quite such a crowd of
  people there.? A. werent  B. hasnt been    C.
  hadnt been        D.  wouldnt be 2002 50.
  _______ for the fact that she broke her leg, she
  might have passed the exam.A. Had it not been B.
  Hadnt it been C. Was it not D. Were it not51.
  What courses are you going to do next
  semester? I dont know. But its about time
  _______ on something.A. Id decide B. I decided
  C. I decide D. Im deciding
• 2004 42.____, Ill marry him all the same.?A.
  Was he rich or poor  B. Whether rich or poor?
• C. Were he rich or poor  D. Be he rich or
  poor?44.____ if I had arrived yesterday without
  letting you know beforehand??A. Would you be
  surprised  B. Were you surprised?
• C. Had you been surprised  D. Would you have been
  surprised
• 46.It is imperative that students ____ their term
  papers on time.
• A. hand in  B. would hand in ?C. have to hand in 
  D. handed in?

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• 2005 51. If you explained the situation to your
  solicitor, he ________ able to advise you much
  better than I can.A. would be        B. will
  have been      C. was        D. were60. That was
  not the first time he ________ us. I think its
  high time we ________ strong actions against
  him.A. betrayedtake                        B.
  had betrayedtookC. has betrayedtook           
          D. has betrayedtake63. ________ you
  _______ further problems with your printer,
  contact your dealer for advice.A. If, had       
        B. Have, had          C. Should, have     
    D. In case, had2006
• 52. If only I __play the guitar as well as you!A
  would B could C should D might54 It's high time
  we __ cutting down the rainforests.A stopped B
  had to stop C shall stop D stop57 I am
  surprised__ this city is a dull place to live
  in.A that you should think B by what you are
  thinking
• C that you would think D with what you were
  thinking59 It is imperative that the government
  __ more investment into the shipbuilding
  industry.
• A attracts B shall attract C attract D has to

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• 2007 54.If only the patient ______a different
  treatment instead of using the antibiotics, he
  might still be alive now.A. had received B.
  received C. should receive D. were
  receiving60.He would have finished his college
  education, but he _______to quit and find a job
  to support his family.A. had B. has    C. had 
  D. would have65.It is absolutely essential that
  William ________his study in spite of some
  learning difficulties.A. will continue B.
  continued  C. continue  D. continues2008 52. Had
  Judy been more careful on the maths exam, she
  ____ much better results now.A. would be getting
  B. could have got C. must get D. would get2009
  52. If there were no subjunctive mood, English
  _____ much easier to learn.A. could have been B.
  would be C. will be D. would have been

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• Thank you!