Grammar for advanced learners: The subjunctive and 'Unreal' uses of past forms - Thấm Tâm Vy

Nội dung text: Grammar for advanced learners: The subjunctive and 'Unreal' uses of past forms - Thấm Tâm Vy

1. THE SUBJUNCTIVE AND - 'There's very little chance of winning this case.' 'Be that as it may, I'm not going to give up 'UNREAL' USES OF PAST FORMS fighting.' (= Whether that is true or not, I'm not ) We use the subjunctive form in certain fixed expressions and after some verbs and - I'll take it all the way to the Supreme Court if need be. (= if this is necessary) adjectives which express the idea of necessity, importance, etc. The subjunctive form can be used to refer to events and situations in the past, present or future. We use it mostly in THE 'UNREAL' PAST formal and literary language. 1. After a number of expressions, like if only, we use past tenses (active and passive) to After certain expressions, we can also use past tenses to refer to the past, present or future, describe things in the present, past or future which are imagined or unreal. We sometimes to describe things which are seen as 'unreal' or unlikely' This is similar to the use of past refer to this use of past tenses as the 'unreal' past. tenses in conditionals. Now, we look at the way we use past tenses after particular - If only I were thin. (= I am not thin but I would like to be thin.) expressions and to express preference and necessity. Other introducing expressions like if only are: It's time, What if, Suppose / Supposing , would rather, would sooner, as if , as though, wish. THE SUBJUNCTIVE We can use the past simple or the past continuous after these expressions to talk about the 1. The subjunctive form is the same as the infinitive (without ‘to’). It does not show any imaginary present and future: marking for tense and can be used to refer to events in the past, present or future. We use it * Present: most often in that-clauses after certain verbs (e.g. advise, ask, demand, insist, propose, - It's time they were forced to clear up the mess. (They aren't being forced to clear up at recommend, request, suggest), and after adjectives (e.g. advisable, anxious, desirable, the moment.) eager, essential, important, necessary, preferable, vital, willing), to express the idea that - These kids act as if they owned the place. (They don't own it.) something is necessary or important: * Future: - At yesterdag's hearing the judge insisted (that) Mr Grant give evidence despite his - I wish I were coming with you tomorrow. (I am not coming with you tomorrow.) relationship to the accused' 2. We use the past perfect to refer to something unreal in the past: - In future cases it will be vital that each party give full disclosure prior to trial. - Suppose the gun had been fired at me? (the gun wasn't fired at me.) We can use passive and negative forms of the subjunctive: - I wish I'd never started this course. (I have started it.) - Members of the committee suggested England be excluded from future international 3. Many speakers prefer to use were for all persons when talking about the imagined tournaments. present or future, especially in more formal situations and in US English. This form is - Regulations require that officers not enter the crime scene without protective clothing. sometimes called the past subjunctive and is also used in second conditional sentences: The verb be has an alternative subjunctive form were which is sometimes called the past - Suppose I were to announce my candidacy at the next council meeting. subjunctive and is used to talk about the imagined present or future and in conditionals. - If only he were a tittle more convincing on the economic issues. 2. The subjunctive is used in reported speech, very formal language (e.g. regulations, - If I were you, l'd think twice before refusing that offer. legal documents) and in poetry: In the above examples we can also use was but this is more informal. - She insisted that she pay her own way. We use It's time to say that something is not happening and it should be: - We require that all receipts be submitted to the committee for approval. - It's time we left. (= We aren't leaving and we should.) - I know not whether laws be right, - It's about time you paid a visit to your grandparents. (= You should visit them.) Or whether laws be wrong. (Oscar Wilde) - It's high time that the voice of the people were heard in this House. (= Their voice As the use of the subjunctive is rather formal or literary in British English (it is less isn't being heard and it should be.) formal and more common in US English), British English speakers prefer to use should +  We cannot use a negative after It’s time : infinitive or the forms listed below in most situations: It’s tine we didn't stay. - It is vital that every appticant complete the form in triplicate. (subjunctive) Note that we can also use It's time + to-infinitive or It's time for + object + to-infinitive: - It is vital that every applicant should complete the form in triplicate. (should + infinitive) - I'm afraid it's time to put your books away now, children. - It is vital that every applicant completes the form in triplicate. (present simple) - Come on everybody. It's time for us to get on the coach. - It is vital for every applicant to complete the form in triplicate. (for + subject + to- 4. We use what if / suppose / supposing (that) with the past simple or continuous to ask infinitive) questions about an imaginary situation in the present or future and its possible 3. There are some fixed expressions which use subjunctive forms: consequences. These questions have similar form and meaning to those in second - If he doesn't want to see us, then so be it. (= then let it happen) conditional sentences. - Bless you! - Suppose he asked you to marry him, what would you say? (= If he asked you to marry - Long live the republic! him, what would you say?) Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 7th, 2019 SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD AND UNREAL PAST
2. Sentences with these expressions describing an imaginary situation in the past have a - I wish that you'd told me about this before I booked the tickets. (= I regret the fact that similar meaning to third conditional sentences: you didn't tell me about this.) - Supposing your parents had refused, how would you have felt? (= If your parents had - If only he hadn't been driving so fast! (= Unfortunately he was driving very fast.) refused, how would you have felt?) 3. Wish / if only + would usually expresses a desire for someone to change their deliberate - And what if he had been thrown out by the landlord? Where would he have gone? behaviour in the present or future: We often use what if , suppose and supposing to make suggestions: - I wish you'd stop looking at me like that. It's terribly distracting. (= You keep looking at - Suppose you paid the bill for once? me and I want you to stop.) We use a present tense after these expressions to ask about an imaginary situation in the We often use this form to criticise or complain about something: future that we think is likely or probable, or if we want to suggest that it is: - I wish you'd stop shouting. I'm not deaf, you know. - What if the plan doesn't work? We can also use the form with inanimate subjects because although we know they have no - Supposing he gets caught at customs? You know how vigilant they can be. conscious control over their actions (they are not human), we give them human 5. We use would rather / would sooner with the past simple to describe preferences: characteristics for emphatic effect: - I’d sooner you gave me a cash refund. A credit note's no use to me. (= I would prefer a - If only the sun would come out so we could get on with the filming. (= The sun 'refuses' refund / I wish you would give me a refund.) to come out. I want it to come out.) They are often used as a polite way to give or refuse permission, or make suggestions: The change we desire must be possible, even if unlikely. We cannot use would for an - I'd rather you didn't smoke in here. impossible change, e.g. one which the subject has no control over or a change to the past: - I'm not keen on the idea of staying in. I'd sooner we went out clubbing or something. - I wish sports cars wouldn’t be so expensive. (Cars have no control over their price.)  If the person expressing a preference and the subject of the preference are the same, we => I wish sports cars weren't so expensive. (=> past simple) use an infinitive instead of the past tense. Compare: - If only nuclear bombs wouldn’t have been invented. (a change to the past) - We'd sooner you spent your bonus on something useful. (past tense: speaker and subject => If only nuclear bombs hadn't been invented. (=> past perfect) are not the same) We can't use would when the subject of the wish and the subject of the change are the - I'd rather spend it on something frivolous. (infinitive: speaker and subject are the same) same. Instead we use a past tense, or could): 6. We use the past simple after as if or as though to say that how something appears now - I wish I would be more energetic. (Subject of wish and would are the same.) does not match with reality: => If only I were more energetic. or - I wish I could be more energetic. - He talks to the children as though they were imbeciles. (The speaker knows they aren't 4. We use wish / if only + could have to describe a desire we know is impossible to imbeciles.) achieve: - They are acting as if nothing had happened. (The speaker knows something has - If only we could see the situation through his eyes. (We can't.) happened.) We often use the form when we are expressing an impossible desire about ourselves: But we use a present tense (including the present perfect) after as if or as though to - I wish I could dance but I'm afraid I've got two left feet. (!) describe how things seem or appear when there is a possibility that the appearance reflects We can use could have for a regret about the past. It means 'It would have been nice if ” something real: - I wish your father could have been there to see it all. (= Unfortunately, he wasn't able to - He sounds as if he knows what he's talking about. (= Perhaps he does know.) be there.) - You look as though gou haven't eaten for days. (= You may not have eaten.) 5. lf only is often more emphatic than wish. Compare these examples: We can use these expressions to be critical, ironic or sarcastic: - If only we'd seen you coming. We might have braked in time. (a regret) - It isn't as if he's in any position to pass judgement! (= He probably isn't in a position to do - I wish we'd seen you coming. We would have put out the red carpet! (a wish) this.) For greater emphasis we can put a subject between if and only in informal English: WISH / lF ONLY - If you only knew how much trouble you've caused. 1. We use wish / if only + past simple to express a desire for something to be different in I Wish can be followed by that, but if only cannot: the present: - If only that you’d told me about it earlier. - I wish I had more free time. (= I don't have much free time, but I would like some.) => I wish that you'd told me about it earlier. The desire can be for something which is actually impossible: - If only I were young again. 2. We use wish / if only + past perfect to express a regret about the past, a wish that something different had happened: Thẩm Tâm Vy, July 7th, 2019 SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD AND UNREAL PAST