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The s*bjunctive and ‘unreal’ uses of past forms - Coggle Diagram
The s*bjunctive and ‘unreal’ uses of past forms
We use the subjunctive form:
1) in certain fixed expressions
2) after some verbs and adjectives which express the idea of necessity, importance, etc.
is used to refer to events and situation in the past, present, future.
is used in fomal and literary language
The Subjunctive
Form and use
subjunctive form is the same as the bare infinitive
(It does not show any marking for tense and can be used to refer to events in the past, present or future)
it's most often used in
that clause
after
certain verbs
(advice, ask, demand, insist, eager, propose, recommend, request, suggest, desire),
certain adjectives
( best, crusial, desirable, essencial, important, recommended, urgent, necessary, advisable, anxious, desirable, eager, preferable, vital, willing a good/bad idea (that) It's time (*)
to express the idea that something is necessary or important
:check:
Subject + Verb/Adjective + (that) + object + Bare infinitive
we can use passive and negative forms with subjunctive.
be - were
(sometimes called the past subjunctive) is used to talk about the imagined present or future and in conditionals
At yesterday 's hearing the Judge insisted (that) Mr Grant give evidence despite his relationship to the accused.
In future cases it will be vital that each party give full disclosure prior to trial.
Members of the committee suggested England be excluded from future international tournaments.
Regulations require that officers not enter the crime scene without protective clothing.
Informal alternatives
use
1) reported speech
2) very formal language (e.g. regulations, legal documents)
3) in poetry
:fountain_pen: US - less formal and literary; Br - formal and literary
British speakers use:
1) subjective
2) should + Infinitive (prefare to use)
3) present simple
4) for+ subject + to + infinitive
She insisted that she pay her own way.
We require that all receipts be submitted to the committee for approval.
I know not whether laws be right, or whether laws be wrong. (Oscar Wilde).
It is vital that every applicant complete the form in triplicate.
It is vital that every applicant should complete the form in triplicate.
It is vital that every applicant completes the form in triplicate.
It is vital for every applicant to complete the form in triplicate.
Fixed expression:
If he doesn't want to see us than let so be it. (= then let it be)
Bless you
Long live the republic
heaven forbid
"There is a little chance of winning this case" "
Be that as it may
" "I'm not going to give up fighting" (whethe it is true or not...I'm not)
I'll take all the way to the Supreme Court
if need be
. (= if this is necessary)
The 'ureal' past
Form and use
if only / it's time / what if / suppose / supposing / would rather / would sooner / as if / as though / wish.
:check: we use the past simple or the past continuous (active and passive) to talk about the imaginery present or future.
:check: we use the past perfect (active and passive) to talk about smth unreal in the past
If only I was thin. (= I am not thin but I would like to be thin)
It's time they were forced to clear up the mess. (They aren't being forced to clear up at the moment).
I wish I were coming with you tomorrow. ( I'm not comming with you tomorrow).
Suppose the gun had been fired at me? (The gun wasn't fired at me)
I wish I'd never tarted this course. ( I have started it)
was or were?
were - for all persons when talking about the imagined present or future (especially in more formal situation and in US)
Suppose I were to announce my candidacy at the next council meeting.
If I were you, I'd think twice before refusing that offer.
It's (high/about) time (that)
use
to say that smth is not happening and it should be.
:check: we cannot use a negative after it's time
:check: it's time + infinitive
:check: It's time + object + to + infinitive
It's time we left. (we aren't leaving but we should)
It's time we didn't stay. (not correct)
I'm afraid it's time to put your books away now, children.
Come on everybody. It's time for us to get on the coach.
What if/ suppose/supposing (that)
we use
past simple
or
continuous
after these expretions
1)
to ask questions about an imaginary situation:
in the present, future and it's (simmilar to the 2 conditional)
in the past (similar to the 3 conditional)
2)
make suggestions
we use
present tense
after these expressions
1)
to ask about an imaginary situation in the future that we think is likely or probable, or we want to suggest that it is
Suppose he asked you to marry him, what would you say? (If he asked you to marry him what would you say?)
Supposing you parents had refused, how would you have felt? (If your parents had refused how would you have felt?)
Suppose you paid the bill for once? (suggestion)
What if the plan doesn't work?
Would rather/ would sonner
we use
past simple
after these expressions
1) to describe preferences
2) as a polite way to give/refure permission or make suggestion
if the person expressing a preference and the subject of the preference are the same we use an
infinitive
instead of the past tense.
I'd sonner you gave me a cash refund.
(I would prefare. I wish you would give me.)
I would rather you didn't smoke in here.
I would sooner we went out clubbing or smth.
We would sonner you spent the bonus on smth usufull
I'd rather spend it on smth frivolous.
as if / as though
we use
past simple
after these expressions
1) to say that how smth appears now does not match with reality
we use a
present tense
(including the present perfect)
1) to describe how things seem or appear when there is a possibility that the appearanxe reflects smth real.
2) to be critical, ironic or sarastic
He talked to the children as though they were imbeciles.
They are acting as if nothing had happened.
He sounds as if he knows what he is talking about. (Perheps he does know)
You look as though you haven't eaten for days. (You may not have eaten)
wish / if only
+past simple
1) to describe a desire for smth to be different in the present.
2) the desire can be for smth which is impossible
I wish I had more free time.
+past perfect
1) to express a regret about the past, a wish that smth different had happened.
If only I hadn't been driving so fast.
(He was driving very fast)
+would
1) expresses a desire for someone to change their deliberate behaviour in the present or future.
2) to criticise or complain about smth.
3) to give the inanimate subjects human characteristics for emphatic effect.
:warning: the change we desire must pe possible, even i f unlikely. We cannot use would for an impossible change ( one hich the subject has no control over or a change to the past)
:warning: we can't use would when the subject of th wish and the subject of the change are the same.
Instead we use past tense or could
I wish you would stop looking at me like that. (=You keep looking at me and I wish you to stop)
I wish you'd stop shouting. I'm not deaf you know.
If only the sun would come out so we could get on with the filming.
I wish sports cars weren't so expensive.
If only I were more energetic. or I wish I could be more energetic.
+сould
1) to describe a desire we know is impossible to achieve (especially when we express an impossible desire about ourselves)
could have
1) regret about the past. it mean ' t would have been nice if'
If only we could see the situation through his eyes.
I wish I could dance but I've got two left feet.
I wish your father could have been there to see it all.
( unfortunatuly, he wasn't able to be there)
wish vs if only
if only - more emphatic
:fountain_pen: for emphasis we can put a subject btw if and only in informal Eng.
wish + that - CORRECT
if only + that - NOT CORRECT
if only we'd seen you coming. We might have braked in time. ( a regret)
I wish we'd seen you coming. We would have put out the red carpet. ( a wish).
If you only knew how much trouble you've caused.
I wish that you'd told me about it earlier.