Tendency to use contracted forms of mood auxiliaries

There is a tendency in Modern spoken English to use contracted forms of mood auxiliaries with the aim of speech economy. Thus, the form I’d may be a substitute for would, should, could and had and create, therefore problems for understanding by foreign listeners. Often the context of the message helps to "unpack" the meaning. E.g.:

If I'd been (had been) in London last weekend, I'd have gone (would have gone) to Anna's party.

There is also an obvious tendency to use the contracted form of the auxiliary have.

E.g.: If I'd seen this book in the shops, I would've bought it for you.

BASIC PATTERNS WITH THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD IN SIMPLE SENTENCES

The conditional mood

may be used to express unreal actions even if unreal condition is not expressed by an (if-clause but is clear from the context (implied unreal condition).

E.g.: He would have said a great deal more. But he was tired and kept silence (The implied condition is: "If he had not been tired, he would have said a great deal more").

The same may be expressed in a different way:

He was tired. Otherwise (or) he would have said a great deal more.

Unreal condition

may be expressed by a special adverbial modifier:

E.g.: But for the weather, they would go skating.

Unreal condition

may be expressed by an infinitive phrase functioning as the subject of the sentence:

E.g.: Surely we won't invite her. To invite her would mean to spoil the weekend.

The following phrases have ceased to express unreality.

They give the utterance a milder and more polite meaning:

E.g.:

It's too late. You'd better take a taxi.

It's none of my business, I'd rather not interfere.

6.5. The subjunctive II may be used to express wish or regret in simple sentences:

E.g.:

If only I knew English grammar better!

Oh, that I were young again!

Oh, if I had known the truth at that time!

BASIC PATTERNS WITH THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD IN COMPLEX SENTENCES

Subject Clauses

7.1.1. It is strange (funny, sad, etc.) that he should know it.

(In such sentences it is possible to use the indicative mood which is less formal. E.g.: It is strange that he knows it.)

7.1.2. It is necessary (ordered, proposed, required, etc.) that he should go there[1] (A.E.: ... that he go there).

7.1.3. It's time (high time) he were here.

Predicative clauses

7.2.1. His suggestion is that we should go there (A. E.: ... that we go. there.)

7.2.2. Our fear is lest he should misunderstand us. (The indicative mood is used in this pattern in less formal style after the conjunction that: Our fear is that he will/may misunderstand us. Compare with pattern 7.3.4.).

7.2.3. He looks as if he were ill (now). He looks as if he had been ill (some time before).

Object clauses

7.3.1. I wish she were in Kyiv (now) (the action of the subordinate clause is simultaneous with the action of the principal clause)

I wish she had been in Kyiv (some time before) (the action of the subordinate clause is prior to the action of the principal clause).

7.3.2.1 wish you would keep quiet (this pattern expresses volition and refers to the future),

7.3.3. He suggests that they should go there (A.E.: ... that they go_there.)

7.3.4.I am afraid lest he should misunderstand us. (The indicative mood is used in this pattern in lees formal style after the conjunction that: I am afraid that he will/may misunderstand us. Compare with pattern 7.2.2).

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 917