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  • Hypothetic Constructs - The Subjunctive: NB. Subjunctive Form of BE: Were (Instead of Was)

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    Ioana-CarmenBoglis
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    The document discusses the subjunctive mood in English and provides examples of its common uses and constructions. Specifically, it outlines six main constructs that employ the subjunctive: 1) wish, 2) as if/though and what if, 3) if only, would rather, had better, 4) it's time, 5) suppose, imagine, and 6) if clauses. It also provides translations of example sentences into the subjunctive and recommends further practice exercises.

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    Subjunctive

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    The document discusses the subjunctive mood in English and provides examples of its common uses and constructions. Specifically, it outlines six main constructs that employ the subjunctive: 1) wish, 2) as if/though and what if, 3) if only, would rather, had better, 4) it's time, 5) suppose, imagine, and 6) if clauses. It also provides translations of example sentences into the subjunctive and recommends further practice exercises.

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    Hypothetic Constructs - The Subjunctive: NB. Subjunctive Form of BE: Were (Instead of Was)

    Uploaded by

    Ioana-CarmenBoglis
    The document discusses the subjunctive mood in English and provides examples of its common uses and constructions. Specifically, it outlines six main constructs that employ the subjunctive: 1) wish, 2) as if/though and what if, 3) if only, would rather, had better, 4) it's time, 5) suppose, imagine, and 6) if clauses. It also provides translations of example sentences into the subjunctive and recommends further practice exercises.

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    Hypothetic Constructs The Subjunctive

    General formula: SHOULD + infintitive (+that): They asked that I should stay.
    Meaning: hypothetical, (im)possibility, desire, reproach, complaint, suggestion etc
    Other forms: V II (informal use): They ask that I stayed.
    Infinitive (v. formal): They ask that I stay.
    Verbs that require the subjunctive: demand, insist, require, suggest etc.
    NB. Subjunctive form of BE: were (instead of was)
    Subjunctive constructs
    1. WISH: Past tense present meaning: I wish you stayed longer.
    Past perfect past meaning: I wish you had left earlier.
    Could future desire: I wish I could come with you!
    Would (not) complaint: I wish you wouldnt drive so fast!
    2. AS IF/THOUGH; WHAT IF:
    Present tense true fact (no subjunctive): What if he knows your name? (real possibility).
    He behaves as if he knows the place. (He really does know it.)
    Past tense pretense, comparison: She smiles as if she were a queen. (She isnt one.)
    Hypothesis: What if he called you? (But he will not call.)
    3. IF ONLY, WOULD RATHER, HAD BETTER:
    Past tense and past perfect forms => same as wish structures: If only they knew the truth! If
    only he had told me that. (regret)
    They would rather I had left earlier. We had better go to the movies.
    4. ITS TIME: Infinitive present meaning (no subjunctive): Its time for you to leave.
    Past tense (+high) present hypothetical meaning: Its high time you left. (its already late)
    5. SUPPOSE, IMAGINE:
    Present tense real possibility/ no subjunctive: Suppose you come with us? Imagine it rains!
    Past tense present meaning: Suppose you knew all the answers.
    Past perfect past meaning: Suppose they had given him another chance.
    6. If Clauses II and III: If they knew him, they wouldnt risk it (present meaning). If she had
    understood the formula earlier, she would/might/could have solved the problem in time (past
    meaning). Also with inversion: Had I arrived earlier, I wouldnt have missed the plane.
    Translate using the subjunctive: 1. Se poarta de parca ar fi proprietarul localului. 2. A sugerat sa se
    faca o plangere. 3. Arata de parca nu a mai mancat de secole. 4. Ce ar fi daca nu am mai merge la
    petrecere? 5. E timpul sa luam masuri impotriva infractionalitatii. 6. Imi doresc sa fi stiut motivul
    lor de a veni aici. 7. As prefera sa plecam imediat. 8. Ce n-as da sa te pot ajuta! 9. As vrea sa nu
    mai faci atata zgomot. 10. Daca as fi stiut ca esti aici, te-as fi cautat. (+ inversion) 11. Daca as fi in
    locul tau, m-as bucura de aceasta veste. 12. Imagineaza-ti ca esti presedinte. Ce ai face in legatura
    cu traficul?
    Further practice: Vince CAE pp.56-59

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