Conditional Mood
методическая разработка по английскому языку (11 класс)

The category of mood

The category of mood shows the attitude of the speaker or writer towards the content of the sentence, whether the speaker considers the action real, unreal, desirable, necessary, etc. It is expressed in the form of the verb.

There are three moods in English - the indicative mood, the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood.

It expresses a command or a request to perform an action addressed to somebody, but not the action itself. As it does not actually denote an action as a real act, it has no tense category; the unfulfilled action always refers to the future. Aspect distinctions and voice distinctions are not characteristic of this mood.

It shows that what is said must be regarded as a fact, as something which has occurred or is occurring at the moment of speaking or will occur in the future. It may denote actions with different time-reference and different aspective characteristics. Therefore this mood has a wide variety of tense and aspect forms in the active and passive voice.

It is used to express non-facts: unreal or hypothetical actions or states. A hypothetical action or state may be viewed upon as desired, necessary, possible, supposed, imaginary, or contradicting reality.

Different forms of the verb are employed for this purpose.

The Subjunctive Mood

Synthetic forms                                

Subjunctive I (be, do)

Subjunctive II (were, did, had done)

Analytical forms

Conditional Mood (would do, would have done)

Suppositional Mood (should do, should have done)

The Conditional Mood

The Conditional Mood expresses the unreal, probable or advisable action. As a rule the unreality is due to the absence of the necessary conditions.

something/somebody would + do (The non-perfect form of the infinitive  refers the action to the present or the future. It expresses simultaneousness.)

something/somebody would + have done  (The perfect form of the infinitive refers the action to the past. It expresses priority.)

 I wouldn't say so now. Я бы этого сейчас не сказала.

I wouldn't have said so yesterday.  Вчера я бы этого не сказала.

Note:  Instead of would we can use could/might to express the required lexical meaning.

She could have read the letter yesterday.  Она могла бы прочесть письмо вчера.

Ex. 1 Translate into Russian. Explain the choice of the infinitive. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1) He would be sorry to miss you. 2) So lucky, we found a taxi. We might have missed the train. 3) What would you do in my place? 4) Why did you not go? You would have liked the picture. 5) You did right to ask her too. She might have felt left out. 6) I saw her last week-end. You would have never recognized her. 7) The neighbours would complain of the noise. 8) You would catch a cold, that's all. 9) He wouldn't have spoken like this. 10) We were sorry she was unwell that night. She could have played the part much better.

Ex. 2 Change the form of the infinitives to refer the action to the past. Translate the sentences.

1) She would not object. 2) Someone would see you. 3) It would be much too warm to walk. 4) She would come there too early. 5) They would be delighted. 6) No one would mind. 7) The children would also want to go. 8) I could not tell her about it. 9) Nothing could stop him. 10) He would take the necessary measures.

Ex. 3 Change the form of the infinitives to refer the action to the present or the future. Translate the sentences.

1) She could have stopped the whole thing at once. 2) We might have had a wonderful time. 3) I would have worn a sweater. 4) He wouldn't have spoken like this. 5) No measures would have been taken. 6) He would have felt much better about it. 7) They wouldn't have quarreled so much. 8) The flowers would have grown much better. 9) No one would have heard about it. 10) I wouldn't have worried so much.

Sentence Patterns with the Conditional Mood

I

But for smth./smb.       smth./smb. would do|would have done

But for the rainy weather we would have a picnic now. Если бы не дождливая погода, мы сейчас были бы на пикнике.

But for her illness she would have gone to the mountains last Saturday. Если бы не ее болезнь, она уехала бы в горы в прошлую субботу.

Ex. 4  Open the brackets using would + non-perfect infinitive speaking about the present or the future or would + perfect infinitive speaking about the past. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1) But for the wind the weather (to be) nice yesterday. 2) But for her freckles she (to be) quite a pretty girl. 3) But for that incident it (to be) a pleasant evening. 4) I (to mind) so much for her interference. 5) We (to get) there all right but for his losing the map. 6) But for the children who must be taken to the dentist's tomorrow I (to go) too. 7) But for her tired eyes you (not to give) her her age. 8) But for me you (to be) late for the first class. 9) But for you I (not to be) safe at home now. 10) But for your help the old woman (not to risk) crossing the street.

Ex. 5  Paraphrase the sentences according to the pattern. Pay attention to the time of possible action. Translate the sentences into Russian.

Pattern: It began to rain and we didn’t go for a walk. But for the rain we would have gone for a walk.

1) He wants to go fishing but he has a bad cold.

2) He could not see the play as he had some  work to do.
3)  She was not alone in the house. Her husband lay asleep in his room after the night shift.

4) I don’t want to tell you this. But I promised to.
5) In the end he went to see the doctor. His wife made him do it.
6)  He didn’t die. The operation saved him.
7) We didn’t have a very good time after all. The weather was too bad.
8) It was impossible to read the inscription in the dark. Then he remembered he had a torch.
9) He has the makings of a good teacher but he has a slight defect of speech.
10) Of course I want to help you. But I’ve a conference today.

11) He had a good guide so he managed to climb the mountain.
12) It was only because the ice was so good that she could set a new record.
13) I could do it all in so short a time only because of your kindness and understanding.
14) You can’t do it only because of a certain lack of concentration.

Ex. 6 Complete the following sentences. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1) But for the strained circumstances ... . 2) But for my boss's recommendation ... . 3) But for unfavourable weather ... . 4) But for her knowledge ... . 5) But for Tom's intelligence ... . 6) But for the house being too big ... . 7) But for the manager's competence ... . 8) But for the children being left alone in the house ... . 9) But for the pizza being too spicy ... . 10) But for this awkward misunderstanding ... . 11) But for the lovely surprise ... . 12) But for the composition I must hand in tomorrow ... .

II

     to do smth. would do smth.

      to have done smth. would have done smth.

To catch a train would be great. Было бы здорово успеть на поезд.

To have been late for the plain would have meant to remain on the island for another year. Oпоздать тогда на самолет значило бы остаться на острове еще на год.

Ex. 7  Open the brackets using the correct form of the conditional mood.  Translate the sentences into Russian.

1) To do so (to result) in complications. 2) To have done so (to spoil) the chances. 3) To stop now (to mean) losing everything. 4) To tell her the truth (can help) her. 5) To have refused (to hurt) the old people. 6) To have been told so (to upset) him greatly. 7) It (to delight) everybody to have heard the news. 8) To go back now (to be) impossible. 9) It (to be) nice to be able to say it. 10) To have given him a hand (to cost) you very little. 11) To know it definitely (to be) a great help. 12) It (to be) a great privilege to have known you personally.

III

otherwise (or) smb. would do|would have done

I'll take my parents to the airport, otherwise I would gladly stay and help you. Я везу родителей в аэропорт, иначе я бы с радостью осталась помочь вам.

She was angry with you, otherwise she wouldn't have spoken to you like this. Она рассердилась на тебя, иначе она бы не разговаривала так с тобой.  

Ex. 8  Open the brackets using the correct form of the conditional mood. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1) He didn't know anything about the party, or he (to come). 2) The doctor told me nothing about the new treatment, or I (to try) it. 3) He didn't consult his  tutor. Otherwise he (to advise) you what to do.4)  We couldn't get in touch with each other, or we (to avoid) a lot of trouble. 5) There were no computers in those times, otherwise my father (to learn) them. 6) He was pressed for time last week or he (to visit) his in-laws.7) Michael finally made up with his son otherwise he (to change) his will. 8) Olga's mother did all the housework, otherwise she (to learn) how to cook. 9) She had an alibi or the police (to arrest) her. 10) The new perfume was too sweet or I (to buy) it. 11) The serial was too long otherwise I (to watch) it to the end. 12) Probably they are out, or somebody  (to answer) the phone.

Ex. 9 Translate into English.

1) Я была бы очень рада встретиться с вами вновь. 2) Если бы не невезение, то он бы выиграл в лотерею. 3) - А что бы вы сделали тогда на моем месте? - Я бы уехала. 4) Татьяна едет отдыхать в Сочи. А я бы поехала на Кипр. 5) Марина не хочет мириться с Николаем. На ее месте я бы помирилась с ним. Он хороший парень. 6) Катя опять купила новое платье. Я бы посоветовала ей не тратить так много денег. 7) Какой сладкий джем! Я не положила бы так много сахара. 8) - Ты опять гулял под дождем? - Я не стала бы делать этого. У тебя ведь простуда. 9) - Не беспокойтесь, я позвоню вам. - Была бы очень вам признательна. 10) Что вы сказали? Не могли бы вы повторить это? 11) Какая жалость, что вы не читали эту книгу! Вы могли бы найти в ней много полезной информации. 12) - Я надеюсь получить эту работу. — Если бы не низкая оплата, любой ухватился бы за такой шанс. 13) - Агата готова принять предложение Тима. - Если бы не финансовые трудности, это была бы неплохая партия. 14) Моя дочь не хочет читать романы Диккенса. А я бы их перечитала.

Ex. 10 Translate into English.

1) Я просто выучил текст наизусть, иначе я бы все перепутал. 2) Было бы очень хорошо закончить все сегодня. 3) Ветер становился сильнее. Оставаться на скале было бы опасно. 4) Я знаю все обстоятельства дела, иначе я бы так не говорила. 5) Уже десять. Ждать дольше было бы бессмысленно. 6) Она была еще совсем неопытной. Иначе она бы так не поступила. 7) Почему ты ей об этом не расскажешь? Я уверена, что она бы не обиделась. 8) Я бы не сказала, что это трудное упражнение. 9) Врач об этом не знал. Он запретил бы ей вставать. 10) Нужно учить правила. Иначе вы не справитесь с итоговой контрольной работой.