Unreal Tenses-Subjunctives-Perfect -Mr. Kim Son

Mr. Trịnh Kim Sơn
Grammar
Unreal Tenses and Subjunctives
Unreal Tenses & Subjunctives
Subjunctives
It’s time
Wishes
Would rather
As if / As though
‘Suppose’ and ‘Imagine’
A. Subjunctives
Present Subjunctive
Past & Past Perfect Subjunctives
Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive
I. Present Subjunctive
Usage:
When talking about events that are not certain to happen.
Form:
There is only bare infinitive form.
E.g: His doctor advised that he stop smoking.
She demands that she be allowed to meet her lawyer.
Note: The form of Subjunctive doesn’t depend on tense of the sentence.
E.g: It is essential that she be present.
It was essential that she be present.
Structure:
S1 + V + (that) + S2 + bare infinitive
a/ Verbs:
E.g:
The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
He suggests that we travel by train.
Used after some following verbs: advise, ask, command, decree, demand, insist, move, propose, order, require, request, recommend, suggest, urge…
2 structures
Should / To infinitive
Less formally they can use should or infinitive construction.

E.g:
It is essential for us to leave.
They require that he should resign.
E.g:
It is essential that you arrive before six.
It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.

Some adjectives: advised, essential, imperative, important, necessary, proposed, recommended, urgent, vital…
b/ Expression:
It + be + Adj + (that) + S + bare infinitive
Some fixed expressions use the Subjunctive
Here are some examples:

Long live the King!
God save the Queen!
Heaven forbid!
God bless America!
Come what may, I will never forget you.
Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
II. Past & Past Perfect Subjunctives
1. Form:
The form of the Past Subjunctive is the same as the Past Simple, especially ‘were’ is used for all persons of ‘be’.
The form of the Past Perfect Subjunctive is the same as the Past Perfect.
Usage:
These Subjunctives are often used after:
It’s time
wish / if only
would rather
as if / as though
suppose - imagine
Conditional sentences type 2
‘Were’ & ‘Was’ in Subjunctive
III. Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive
Negative example:
The boss insisted that Susan not be at the meeting.
Continuous example:
I propose that we all be waiting in Tom’s apartment when he gets home.
Passive example:
We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.
B. It’s time
“It’s time” implies that “It’s a little late”.
E.g:
It’s time we left.
It’s high time I was/were going.
It’s (high/about) time + S + Past Subjunctive
Note:
In this case, ‘It’s time’ states that the correct time has arrived.

E.g: It’s time to start.
It’s time for us to go.
It’s time + (for Object) + to infinitive
C. Wishes
Present
Future
Past
Hope / Would like
C. Wishes
Present:



E.g: I wish I had a motorbike.
(I don’t have one now.)
I wish you weren’t leaving.
(You are leaving.)

S + wish + S + Past Subjunctive
C. Wishes
Note:
Unreal past tense don’t change in the indirect speech:
E.g: ‘I wish I lived near my office’ said he.
 He said he wished he lived near his office.
C. Wishes
Future:
‘Would’ here means ‘decided to’.
E.g: I wish you would leave.
I wish I could go on holiday with you next year.
S + Wish + S + would/could + Infinitive
C. Wishes
Future:
‘Would’ is often used to describe an annoying habit.
Ex: I wish he would stop smoking.
(I don’t like it, I want him to change it.)
I wish you wouldn’t squeeze the toothpaste from the middle.
(I want you to change your habit.)
C. Wishes
Past:


E.g: I wish I hadn’t eaten so much.



Note:
‘If only’ can replace ‘Wish’ in this case.

E.g: If only I hadn’t eaten so much.
S + Wish + S + Past Perfect Subjunctive
C. Wishes
Hope / Would like:
E.g:
I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.
I hope he stop talking soon.
I’d like to go to the Caribbean for my holiday next year.
D. Would rather
Used to express a personal preference about one action.





E.g:

I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here.
He’d rather you called the police.
S1 + would rather + S2 + Past Subjunctive
Note
The stress is important, it shows what our preference is.
E.g:
I’d rather you went. (not me)
I’d rather you went. (don’t stay)
D. Would rather
Both I’d rather and I’d sooner are used with normal tenses when comparing nouns and phrases.
E.g:
I’d rather be a sailor than a soldier.
I’d rather have lived in Ancient Greece than Ancient Rome.
I’d sooner work in the same way.
Would Prefer
“I’d prefer” can be used as  a part of a conditional sentence type 2.
Note that “would prefer” in this kind of sentence has an object ‘it’:
E.g: I’d prefer it if you didn’t go.

“I’d prefer” is not followed by an unreal tense.
E.g: I’d prefer tea to coffee.
E. As if / As though
Use:
To indicate unreality or improbability or doubt  in the present.
The tense here depends on whether the comparison is true or unreal.

E.g: He acts as if he were in charge (but he isn’t in charge)
      He acts as if he is in charge (he is really in charge)
As if / As though+ Past Subjunctive
Note
Past Perfect Subjunctive can be used when referring to an imaginary action in the past.
E.g: He talks /talked about Rome as though he had been there himself.
(But he hasn’t)
F. ‘Suppose’ and ‘Imagine’
The conditional part of these sentences is often understood but not stated:
E.g: Imagine we won in the lottery! (Imagine what we would do if…)
Suppose someone told you that I was a spy!
(What would you say?)
F. ‘Suppose’ and ‘Imagine’
Present tense is possible if the event is a real possibility rather than imaginary.

E.g: Suppose it starts raining, what will we do?
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