The Subjunctive

The Subjunctive

Subjunctive sentences:

SUBJECT + VERB + THAT + SUBJECT + INF. without to

Например:

John's mother insisted that he return home early.

Subjunctive обозначает особую группу глагольных временных форм (типа present — be; past — were for all persons — для глагола to be или infinitive with out to — для других глаголов), используемых для описания событий, которые вряд ли когда-либо будут иметь место, но которые являются предметом наших надежд, мечтаний, желаний.

The Present Subjunctive

The Present Subjunctive is used after. Indicating that one person wants another one to do something:

Note the difference
British variant:
I insist that you should leave without her.
It is recommended that you should publish your book.
American variant:
I insist that you leave without her.
It is recommended that you publish your book.

The Past Subjunctive prefers to use were instead of was

She behaves as if she were/was a queen.
I wish it were true.

Present and past reference with 'I wish', 'if only' and 'it's (high) time'

(I) wish, if only. it's (high) time and it's (about) time, we 'go one tense back':

Expressing wishes and regrets with 'I wish' and 'if only

We often use I wish for things that might (still) happen:

I wish I knew the answer! (= it's possible I might find out the answer)

If only is stronger. We use it to express regret for things that can (now) never happen:

If only your mother were alive now! (Of course, / wish is also possible.)

We may use the simple past of be after wish and if only:

I wish I was on holiday now.
If only Tessa was here now!

If we want to be more formal, we use were in all persons:

I wish I were on holiday now.
If only Tessa were here!

We may use the past perfect of be for things that can never happen:

I wish I had been on holiday last week.
If only Tessa had been here yesterday!

We use the past or past perfect forms of other verbs:

I wish I knew the answer to your question.
I wish I had known then what I know now!

'Would' and 'could' after 'I wish' and 'if only'

We must use could, not would, after /and we. Compare:

We sometimes use / wish you (he. she. etc.)would(n't) like an imperative:

'It's (high) time' and 'It's (about) time'

We use It's time, It's high time and it’s about time to express present or future wishes, or to express our impatience about things that haven't happened yet:

Kim can't even boil an egg. - I know. It's time/high time/about time she learnt to cook!

Expressing personal preference with 'I'd rather/ I'd sooner'

We use would rather and would sooner to express preference. We can refer to the present or the future:

I'd rather/I'd sooner be a builder than an architect.

Or we can refer to the past:

If I could choose again, I'd rather/sooner have been a builder than an architect.

Expressing preferences about other people's actions

We can refer to other people after I'd rather or I'd sooner:

I'd rather leave on an earlier train. (= I'm referring to myself)
I'd rather Jackleft on an earlier train. ( I want him to leave)

We use the past tense form after I'd rather to refer to the Present or future.

I'd rather be happy. I'd rather not sit next to her. (= for myself)
I'd rather she were/was happy. (= now)
I'd rather she didn't sit next to me. (= now)

We use the past perfect form after I'd rather to refer to Past time.

I'd rather have been present. (= then - I'm referring to myself)
I'd rather you had been present. (then)
I'd rather you hadn't told me about it. (then)

'I'd rather he didn't'

We generally omit the main part of the verb in short responses:

Negative responses:

Frank is going to buy a motorbike. - I'd rather he didn't.
I′ve told everyone about it. - I'd rather you hadn't.

Affirmative responses:

Frank won't give up his present job. - I'd rather he did.
I haven't told anyone about it. - I'd rather you had.

We do not have to repeat the main verb in a complete sentence:

You always go without me and I'd rather you didn't.

Vocabulary

Ecology and environment. Problems of big cities. Study the important vocabulary: