Simple sentences

Subjunctive II is used in simple sentences to express:

1. Advice in a set expression had better / 'd better:

Somebody had better do/not do smth

e.g. You had better go there at once.

2. Preference in set expressions

had rather/'d rather, had sooner/'d sooner, would rather, would sooner somebody would/had rather/sooner do/not do smth

e.g. I would rather leave it to you.

3. An unreal wish in sentences beginning with Oh, that, Oh if, If, If only.

If only somebody did something

e.g. If only I knew it for sure!

4. Subjunctive II of modal verbs is often used to express that something is desirable, advisible,possible:

e.g. What should I do to make us happier?

Can you tell us if there's a farm where we could stay the night.

Modal verbs have no past Subjunctive II. Reference to the past is made by using the perfect infinitive:

e.g. You really should have helped your friend.

Complex sentences

Subjunctive II is used in:

1. In clauses after the expression of wish:

		somebody did/did not do smth
	wishes	smb were doing smth
smb	wished	smth were done
	will wish	smb had done smth smth had been done

e.g. I wished I knew what to say, what to do.

Note: To make the sentence more emphatic «would + infinitive» is used with reference to the future, provided the subjects are different: e.g. There was silence between us, I wished she would go away.

2. Clauses after expressions of preference:

'd		smb did not do smth
smb had	rather
would		smb had not done smth

e.g. I'd rather you went there.

I'd rather you had told the truth.

3. Indirect questions beginning with if or whether and depending on expression of negative or doubtful meaning:

e.g. While I went to see if this were possible, she waited in the hall.

4. In clauses introduced by the conjunctions as if, as though, with the link verbs be, look, seem, feel

be/not
look	as if	sb did smth
seem	as though	sb had done smth
feel

e.g. It's not as if you knew him.

5. In clauses modifying the noun time:

e.g. It's time he came.

6. After the conjunctions even if, even though to express concession:

e.g. Even though he were here, he would not help us.

7. After the conjunctions as if, as though to express comparison or manner:

e.g. He loved the child as if she were his own daughter.

The Conditional Mood

The Present Conditional is formed by the auxiliary verb

should (first person) + Indefinite/Continuous Infinitive

would (second and third person)

e.g. If I were not busy I should go with you.

If I hadn’t such a headache, I should be working now.

The Present Conditional is formed by the auxiliary verb

should/ would + Perfect / Perfect Continuous Infinitive

e.g. If I had not been so busy, I should have gone with you.

If you had come at seven o’clock, I should have been working at my English.

The unreality of an action represented by the Conditional Mood is due to the absence of the necessary circumstances on which the realization of the action depends.

1. The Conditional Mood is used in sentences with implied condition:

I, we He, she, it, they

should do/ should have done sth would do/ would have done sth

I should not say so. He would make a good doctor.

2. The Conditional Mood is used in sentences with unreal condition:

But for sth

I, we should do/ should have done sth Sb would do/ would have done sth

But for the rain we should go.

3. The Conditional Mood is used in sentences with implied condition in the pattern :

to do sth to have done sth

would do would have done

To do so would result in complications. To have done so would have spoiled his chances.

4. The Conditional Mood is used in the second clause of a compound sentence connected by the conjunctions or or by the conjunctive adverb otherwise expressing what may be understood as an unreal consequence, the condition of which is not expressed as such:

otherwise or

I, we should do/ should have done sth Sb would do/ would have done sth

He knew it to be nonsense or it would have frightened him. I shall have to take my sister to the pictures. Otherwise I should stay.