SUBJUNCTIVE I

Subjunctive I coincides in form with the infinitive without the particle to for all persons in both the singular
and the plural (be, go, do, take, see, etc.). It has no tense distinctions and denotes a hypothetical action
referring to the present or future. Subjunctive I is used in simple sentences, which are set expressions
(prayers, wishes, etc.) in formal style.
God save the Queen! God bless you! Long live the President!

THE SUPPOSITIONAL MOOD

The Suppositional Mood is formed by means of the auxiliary verb should and the infinitive of the main
verb without the particle to for all persons, both singular and plural. This mood represents the action as
problematic, but not contradicting reality. This form expresses necessity, suggestion, advice, supposition.
The Suppositional Mood has two tense forms: the present and the past.

 The Present Suppositional is formed by means of the auxiliary verb should and the Indefinite
Infinitive of the main verb (should be, go, do, take, see, etc.).
 The Past Suppositional is formed by means of the auxiliary verb should and the Perfect Infinitive of
the main verb (should have been, gone, done, taken, seen, etc.).

Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood represent an action as problematic, but not necessarily
contradicting reality. It is used to express necessity, order, suggestion, and supposition. Subjunctive I is used
with both present and past reference, in different types of subordinate clauses, where should structures of the
Suppositional Mood are an alternative. Subjunctive I is rather formal. It is used more in American English.
In British English we often use should structures instead or we use the form of the verb in the Indicative
Mood.

Contrary to the Conditional Mood and Subjunctive II, Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood do not
have individual patterns of use. They share several common patterns of use:

Patterns of Use

| If sb. should say sth. | sb. will do sth. |

| Should sb. say sth. | do sth. |

Such patterns express a ‘problematic condition’, and when translated into Ukrainian, we use the words
‘accidentally’, ‘if it happens so that.’

If she should come here, I will be extremely pleased.

Should you buy tickets, let me know immediately.
Should you see anything strange in his behavior, do not hesitate to inform the powers to improve the
situation.
| It | is, was, will be | necessary, important, desirable, advisable, requested, ordered, arranged, demanded |
that | sb. should do sth., sb. do sth. |

It is necessary that you should come (come) some days before the others.
It is requested that every student should register (register) at the dean’s office.

NOTE! After an adjective + to-infinitive can be used in the above-mentioned patterns. It is important to
keep an exact record.

| to suggest, to demand, to insist, to order, to arrange | that | sb. should do sth., sb. do sth. |

He suggested that we should begin at once.

He will insist that we should do it ourselves.
It was arranged that the examination take place on the 2nd of May.

NOTE! The conjunction that must always appear in clauses with Subjunctive I. If it is omitted, most of the
verbs are followed by the infinitive.

We urge that you leave now.

We urge you to leave now.

| to think, to believe, to consider, to find | it | necessary, important, desirable, advisable, better | that | sb.
should do sth., sb. do sth. |

I think it is necessary that you should go there.

I find it advisable that you should go there.

NOTE! Do is not used in negative sentences before the form of Subjunctive I.

It is desirable that he not leave school before finishing his exams.

NOTE! After lest we do not use any negation. Not: Do it at once lest she should not change her mind.

NOTE! Lest is very rare in modern British English and is found mostly in older literature and in ceremonial
language. It is a little more common in formal American English. Do it at once lest she should change her
mind.

NOTE! Lest has a similar meaning to so that ... not. There are several patterns with so that in modern
English followed by modals.

I'm astonished that she should have said so.

I'm sorry that you should think so.

The whole system of the English subjunctive mood is not stable; it is still developing and the use of forms
fluctuates a lot: for example, the form was is often used instead of were in the third person singular in
Subjunctive II (If she was here...), the auxiliaries should and would are often interchangeable, etc. In
colloquial speech, the semantic and formal contrasts between the indicative, the past subjunctive, and the
modal subjunctive are often neutralized. It is impossible that he is right/that he should be right/that he be
right. Neutralization is also natural in reported speech in the past. She thought that if she learned the rule,
she would pass the exam.

Both the Suppositional Mood and Subjunctive I are used to represent an action not as a real fact but as
something necessary, important, ordered, desirable, suggested, etc., and not contrary to reality. But the
Suppositional Mood is much more widely used than Subjunctive I in British English, where Subjunctive I is
used in literary language in general.

1. How unfortunate that you were so careless. This wouldn't have happened if you had listened to your
friends' advice. (Third Conditional - Used to express hypothetical situations in the past and their
consequences. It describes a situation that did not happen because the condition was not met.)
1. If it weren't for the moon, it would be completely dark now. (Second Conditional - Mixed Time -
Used to describe a hypothetical situation in the present and its consequence, but the condition is
related to the past. "If it weren't for" is a common phrase used to introduce the condition.)
2. · He looked so tired as if he hadn't rested for a long time. (Subjunctive in comparison/simile -
Used with "as if" to express a comparison or a hypothetical situation that is contrary to fact. It
suggests that the person's appearance implies a lack of rest.)
3. · It's a pity you don't know his address, because then we could go to see him today. (Second
Conditional - Used to express a hypothetical situation in the present and its consequence. It
describes a situation that is contrary to fact or unlikely to happen.)
4. · I have a feeling as if you had never left. (Subjunctive in comparison/simile - Used with "as if"
to express a comparison or a hypothetical situation that is contrary to fact. It suggests a strong
feeling of familiarity or continuity.)
5. · If I were in your place, I would behave more decisively in such a situation. (Second Conditional
- Used to express a hypothetical situation in the present and its consequence. It describes a
situation that is contrary to fact or unlikely to happen.)
6. · Yesterday it could have been done, but today it makes no sense. (Third Conditional in the first
part, present simple in the second - Used to express a hypothetical situation in the past and its
consequence. The second part is in the present simple to contrast with the past possibility.)
7. · It's a pity I wasn't with you when it happened. (Third Conditional in the main clause - Used to
express regret about a past situation that cannot be changed. It focuses on the consequence of the
unreal condition.)
8. · "I wish my portrait grew old, and I remained always young and beautiful," said Dorian. (Wish
clause - Used to express a desire or regret about a present or future situation that is unlikely or
impossible. "Wish" is followed by the past simple to express a present wish.)
9. · Anyone in your place would have done exactly the same. (Third Conditional in the main clause
- Used to express a hypothetical situation in the past and its consequence. It suggests that the
action would have been the same if the condition had been met.)
10. · To my question, he replied that his friend hadn't got the tickets, but he could have if he had
come to the ticket office an hour earlier. (Third Conditional - Used to express a hypothetical
situation in the past and its consequence. It describes a situation that did not happen because the
condition was not met.)
11. · If there were no oxygen in the air, we wouldn't be able to breathe. (Second Conditional - Used
to express a hypothetical situation in the present and its consequence. It describes a situation that
is contrary to fact or unlikely to happen.)
12. · If it weren't for you, young man, I might have drowned. You saved my life. (Mixed Conditional -
Second in the first part, past simple in the second - Used to describe a hypothetical situation in the
present and its consequence, but the condition is related to the past. The second part is in the past
simple to describe a real action.)
13. · If I were in your place, I would publish these poems. (Second Conditional - Used to express a
hypothetical situation in the present and its consequence. It describes a situation that is contrary to
fact or unlikely to happen.)
14. · I'm sure he will behave as if he doesn't feel any pain. (Subjunctive in comparison/simile - Used
with "as if" to express a comparison or a hypothetical situation that is contrary to fact. It suggests
that the person's behavior will imply a lack of pain.)

1) If you happen to be late for the train, you can get there by bus. (First Conditional - Used to
express a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes
the element of chance or unexpectedness.)
2) If it turns out that she doesn't know the address, ask the secretary. (First Conditional - Used to
express a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Turns out" introduces a
condition that becomes known later.)
3) If you happen to meet him, tell him that we remember him. (First Conditional - Used to express a
possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes the element
of chance or unexpectedness.)
4) If you happen to see this model on sale, buy me one. (First Conditional - Used to express a
possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes the element
of chance or unexpectedness.)
5) If it turns out that the shoes are too small for her, her younger sister will wear them. (First
Conditional - Used to express a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result.
"Turns out" introduces a condition that becomes known later.)
6) If you happen to feel unwell on the plane, take one or two pills. (First Conditional - Used to
express a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes
the element of chance or unexpectedness.)
7) If the water turns out to be cold, don't let the children swim in the river. (First Conditional - Used
to express a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Turns out" introduces a
condition that becomes known later.)
8) If he happens to forget his promise, I will definitely remind him. (First Conditional - Used to
express a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes
the element of chance or unexpectedness.)
9) If she happens to return early, call her. (First Conditional - Used to express a possible situation in
the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes the element of chance or
unexpectedness.)
10) If you happen to be able to come, we will be glad to see you. (First Conditional - Used to express
a possible situation in the present or future and its likely result. "Happen to" emphasizes the
element of chance or unexpectedness.)