The Subjunctive Mood

МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ 
ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ БЮДЖЕТНОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ 
УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ ВЫСШЕГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ 
РОСТОВСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ (РИНХ) 
ФАКУЛЬТЕТ ЛИНГВИСТИКИ И ЖУРНАЛИСТИКИ 
КАФЕДРА ЛИНГВИСТИКИ И МЕЖКУЛЬТУРНОЙ КОММУНИКАЦИИ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD 
 
Учебное пособие 
 
Для бакалавров 
 
По направлению подготовки «Лингвистика» 
Профиль «Перевод и переводоведение» 
 
По курсу 
«Практический курс первого иностранного языка (английского)» 
 
 
Составитель Ю.В. Тарасова 
 
 
 
Ростов-на-Дону 
2017 
 

УДК811.111 
ББК81.2Англ. 
Т19 
 
Рецензенты: 
д-р филол. наук, проф. И.А. Кудряшов, 
канд. филол. наук, доц. И.Г. Барабанова 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Т19  The Subjunctive Mood: учеб. пос. / сост. Ю.В. Тарасова. – Ростов н/Д.: 
Издательско-полиграфический комплекс РГЭУ (РИНХ), 2017. – 76 с. – 
Режим доступа: http://library.rsue.ru. 
ISBN 987-5-7972-2381-8 
 
 
В учебном пособии представлен теоретический материал по теме 
“Сослагательное наклонение” и в соответствии с ним система упражнений, 
способствующая 
формированию 
практических 
умений 
использования 
грамматических моделей сослагательного наклонения в речи. 
Предназначено для работы студентов 2-го, З-го курсов направления 
«Лингвистика» профиля «Перевод и переводоведение». 
УДК811.111 
ББК81.2Англ. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 © РГЭУ (РИНХ), 2017 
                                                                 © Составитель Ю.В. Тарасова, 2017 

CONTENTS 
 
MOOD ........................................................................................................................... 4 
COMPLEX SENTENCES .......................................................................................... 12 
CONDITIONALS ....................................................................................................... 15 
SUBJUNCTIVE I AND II PRESENT ........................................................................ 27 
SUBJUNCTIVE I AND II PAST................................................................................ 34 
SUBJUNCTIVE I AND II PRESENT AND PAST ................................................... 39 
PROBLEMATICAL CONDITIONAL CLAUSES .................................................... 44 
MIXED TYPES OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES ................................................ 46 
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF COMPARISON ......................................................... 47 
OBJECT CLAUSES.................................................................................................... 52 
SUBJECT CLAUSES ................................................................................................. 56 
ATTRIBUTIVE APPOSITIVE CLAUSES ................................................................ 58 
ATTRIBUTIVE CLAUSES MODIFYING THE NOUN “TIME” ............................ 59 
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF PURPOSE .................................................................. 61 
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF CONCESSION ........................................................... 64 
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF TIME AND PLACE ................................................... 66 
The Subjunctive Mood (Test) ..................................................................................... 74 
Библиографический список  ............................................................................... 75 
 
 

MOOD 
Mood is a grammatical category which indicates the attitude of the speaker towards 
the action expressed by the verb from the point of view of its reality. 
In Modern English we distinguish three moods: 
(1)The Indicative Mood, 
(2)The Imperative Mood. 
(3)The Subjunctive Mood. 
 
THE INDICATIVE MOOD 
The Indicative Mood shows that the action or state expressed by the verb is 
presented as a fact. 
We went home early in the evening. 
The Indicative Mood is also used to express a real condition, i. e. a condition the 
realization of which is considered possible. 
If it rains, I shall stay at home. 
If Catherine disobeys us, we shall disinherit her. 
 
THE IMPERATIVE MOOD 
The Imperative Mood expresses a command or a request. In Modern English the 
Imperative Mood has only one form which coincides with the infinitive without the 
particle to; it is used in the second person (singular and plural). 
Be quiet and hear what I tell you. 
Please put the papers on the table by the bed. 
In forming the negative the auxiliary verb to do is always used, even with the verb to 
be. 
Hush! Don’t make a noise! Don’t be angry... 
The auxiliary verb to do may also be used in affirmative sentences to make the 
request more emphatic. 
But now, do sing to us. 
To make a request or an order more emphatic the subject expressed by the pronoun 
you is sometimes used. It is characteristic of colloquial speech. 
I’ll drive and you sleep awhile. 
Note. – A command addressed to the third person singular and plural is usually 
expressed with the help of the verb to let. 
Let the child go home at once. 
Пусть ребенок сейчас же идет домой. 
Let the children go home at once. 

Пусть дети сейчас же идут домой. 
With the first person plural the verb to let is used to express an exhortation to a joint 
action. 
Let’s go and have some fresh coffee. 
Пойдемте, выпьем свежего кофе. 
 
THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD 
The Subjunctive Mood shows that the action or state expressed by the verb is 
presented as a non-fact, as something imaginary or desired. The Subjunctive Mood is 
also used to express an emotional attitude of the speaker to real facts. 
In Russian it is translated with the particle “бы”. 
There are two forms of the Subjunctive Mood: Subjunctive I and Subjunctive II. 
Subjunctive I has two forms: 
a) Subjunctive I Present; 
b) Subjunctive I Past. 
Subjunctive I Present is formed with the help of should/would + Infinitive without 
to: 
I would like a piece of cake. 
Мне бы хотелось кусочек торта. 
We would eat it. 
Мы бы это съели. 
Subjunctive I Present is used in the expressions referring to the present or future: 
We would be at the station now. 
Сейчас мы были бы уже на станции. 
Peter would help you tomorrow. 
Питер помог бы вам завтра. 
Subjunctive I Past is formed with the help of should/would + perfect Infinitive 
without to: 
I would have phoned you then. 
Я бы позвонил тебе тогда. 
Не would have helped you. 
Он бы помог вам. 
Subjunctive I Past is used in the expressions referring to the past. 
I would have bought that dress yesterday. 
Вчера я бы купила это платье. 
I would have told you everything frankly but you were out. 
Я бы все рассказал вам откровенно, но вас не было. 
The forms of  Subjunctive I Present and Past are called analytical. 

THE USE OF SUBJUNCTIVE I 
1. In simple sentences: 
I’d like to speak to her. 
Я бы хотел поговорить с ней. 
They would have gone with you, but they couldn't. 
Они бы поехали с вами, но не смогли. 
2. In simple sentences with “but for” (если бы не...): 
But for the moon it would be quite dark now. 
Если бы не луна, сейчас было бы совершенно темно. 
But for you we shouldn’t have finished our work in time. 
Если бы не вы, мы бы не закончили работу вовремя. 
3.I n compound sentences with such conjunctions as: otherwise (иначе), or (в 
противном случае), but that (если бы не): 
The boy would study well, but he is often ill. 
Мальчик учился бы хорошо, но он часто болеет. 
He wouldn’t have believed it but that he saw it himself. 
Он не поверил бы этому, если бы не увидел сам. 
4. In complex sentences, but we’ll speak about it later. 
EXERCISES 
Exercise 1. Translate the following sentences from English into Russian: 
A.1 .Why don’t you go to Mr. Brown for advice. He would tell you what to do, he 
would help you make the necessary arrangements. 2. I’d like you to make friends 
with Nick. It would be nice of you. 3. Ann is an excellent storyteller. It would be 
wonderful to have her in our drama group. 
B.1. Why didn’t you come to our place yesterday? You would have enjoyed hearing 
Peter tell us about his trip. 2. I’m sorry he wasn’t at the office at the time. He would 
have attended to the matter immediately. 3. It was very wise of you to leave a 
message for him. There would have been no point in waiting for him. 
C.1. “I would have told you everything frankly, but you were away on business,” the 
boy said to his uncle. 2. Come to my place this afternoon. The weather is lovely. We 
could go for a walk. You could enjoy having a walk in the forest, I am sure. 3. Peter 
is a good speaker. He would have kept to the subject, but on this occasion he was 
interrupted all the time and it made his speech too long as a result. 4. The boy has 
been very active. It would only be just to praise him. 5. “Can you wait a bit longer?” 
Jack asked the manager. “I know' my friend would be interested in getting the job. 
 
 

Exercise 2. Open the brackets: 
1. “Why don’t you leave him alone?” the mother asked her son. “He feels rather upset 
after what’s happened and a few friendly words (to cheer up him)”. 2. It’s a pity John 
wasn’t there. He (to convince) you in no time. 3. “I’m looking forward to getting the 
results of the experiment”, said the scientist. “It (to be) very useful to compare them 
with the figures we’ve got now.” 4. Why didn’t you tell me you were cold? I (to shut) 
the window long ago. 5. I didn’t know you needed those figures. I (to look) them up 
when I was, in the reading room. 6. Your son’s getting very shy. It (to be) a good 
idea to send him to a camp for the summer. It (to do) him a lot of good. 7. I’m glad I 
left before five. The traffic there is usually very heavy by five. It (to hold) me up. 8. 
Why do you want to stay with your relatives? I (to prefer) spending a holiday at the 
seaside. 9. “The children have already been out of sight for half an hour”, said the 
man. “I’m afraid it (to be) impossible for you to reach them now.” 
 
Exercise 3. Join the beginnings and the ends: 
 
I understand you know a lot of facts 
 
to exchange ideas 
 to be interested 
 to make arrangements 
 
I’m sorry you didn't attend to the matter 
yourself 
It’s a pity you are going to be out in the 
evening 
otherwise 
 to do something properly 
  not to get into trouble 
  not to mix something up 
  to take a wrong step 
 to call at 
 
 to have a lovely time to have 
fun 
Why weren't you frank with your 
friends? 
 
    to cheer up 
    to take steps 
    not to hesitate to help 
     not to leave in trouble 
 
 
 

Exercise 4. Complete the following sentences: 
1. But for the weather... 
2. But for his accent... 
3. If it were not for his politeness ... 
4. If it hadn’t been for their bad luck... 
5. But for his smoking... 
6. If it were not for the noise... 
7. If it hadn’t been for the pain... 
8. But for his bad behavior... 
9. But for the rain... 
10. But for his advice... 
Exercise 5. Translate into English: 
A. 1. Я старался бы вести себя лучше. 2. На следующей неделе она прочитала 
бы большую часть книги. 3. Через несколько лет он заинтересовался бы этим 
изобретением. 4. Я не стал бы ждать его сейчас, я оставил бы ему записку. 5. Я 
наказала бы ребенка. 6. Вам нужно заниматься, спортом. Это помогло бы Вам. 
В.1. Я не был бы так откровенен с ними. 2. Он не занимался бы этим вопросом 
в то время. 3. Я давно бы закрыл окно. 4. Он договорился бы с Вами о встрече в 
прошлый раз. 5. На прошлой неделе она сделала бы эту работу сразу. 6. В то 
время он принял бы такое назначение без колебаний. 
Exercise 6. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English: 
1. Я бы взял такси. Но у меня нет с собой денег. 2. Я бы сам поднял этот вопрос 
на собрании тогда. 3. Почему ты не хочешь поговорить с ним? Твои слова 
подбодрили бы его. 4. Я советую Вам перевести еще одну статью. Это было бы 
Вам полезно. 5. Почему вы колеблетесь? Я бы советовал вам взять эти билеты. 
6. Зачем ты накрыл на стол? Я бы сама это сделала. 8. Я бы хотел, чтобы Вы 
переговорили с ним. Я думаю, что Вы убедили бы его не делать этого. 9. 
Торопитесь! Мы можем опоздать на десятичасовой поезд. Это было бы очень 
неприятно. 10. Я. бы занялся этим делом сам, но я буду завтра целый день занят 
на конференции. 11. Я не знал, что на этого человека нельзя положиться. Я бы 
не имел с ним дела. 12. Я бы рассказал ему обо всем, но я не смог ему 
дозвониться. 13. На Вашем месте я наказал бы его. 
Exercise 7. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English: 
1. Если бы не важность этого дела, я бы остался дома. 2. Мы бы так и не узнали 
ничего о нем, если бы не этот случай. 3. Если бы не неожиданный приезд моего 
брата, я пошел бы в кино с вами. 4. Если бы не его упрямство, он уже тогда 
принял бы вашу помощь. 5. Если бы не ваша невнимательность, вы бы