IF Sentence and Subjunctive-English Grammar

page(379-395)

Chapter 17

If-Sentence and Subjective

The subjunctive is an English verb form that does not express reality but unreal facts, such as wishes or possible events. Insofar, it is a peculiarity because its occurrence in modern English is rather rare. The subjunctive is a reasonably formal expression, which means that it is usually used in written language.

The subjunctive is not a tense like the past simple or the present perfect. It’s a mood.

This is advanced English grammar. The subjunctive form is very rare in English. It’s so rare that it is only used on 5 occasions in English.

This lesson will help you understand the subjunctive mood so that you can understand some English sentence structures. You don’t need to memorize “rules” about mood. You just need to learn in which sentences to use the subjunctive.

: If –s

entence

:If- sentence (conditional Sentence )

“If-sentence Condition Sentence”  (conditional Sentence)  :-

1. (Real Conditions)
2. (Impossible Condition)
3. (Impossible Conditions)
4. (Unreal Conditions)

 

(2clause)    if        if-clause Main clause Principle clause :-

 

 

if-Clause                              Main Clause

If water boils,                          it will change into steam.

If it rains,                               I shall stay at home.

, If there is no air,                    we shall die.

Clause 2 clause if       comma:-

 

I shall stay at home if it rains.

= If it rains , I shall stay at home .

He would be in time if he hurried.

=If he hurried, he would be in time. (379)

 

(Real Conditions)

:-   ( Real conditions)   (Verb) Tense

: ( Real Conditions)

 

If + Present, +Present

 

1:

 

 

If water boils, it changes into steam.

If the students study hard, they pass their exams.

If you hurt a dog, it bites you.

If my dog sees a stranger, it barks out loud.

 

 

: If + Present, + Future have

2

 

 

:- if the sun does not shine, all animals will die.

If you add 2 to 4, you will get 6 .

If you speak Chinese, he won’t understand you.

: ‘Present ’ Present Simple, Present Perfect  Present Continuous    Future   Future :-  (380)

 

If my dog has seen a stranger, it will give barks.

If he begins early morning, he will have finished by noon.

If my buffalo is drinking water, it will lower its head.

If he is ill, he goes to see a doctor.

 

If + Present, + Imperative

3:

 

If you see him, tell him to visit me.

Don’t smoke a cigarette if you are sick.

If he comes, don’t let him get in.

If she goes there, please take her to have sight-seeing many things interesting.

( Future)  will, shall   can, may, must, should  have to, ought to :-

If-Present  + Future

Must

:-  If you go out tonight, you        ought to          put a coat on.

Should

Have to

 

If he comes, I can speak to him.

(Future will, shall )                      (381)

( Impossible Conditions)

: Tense

: (Impossible conditions) :-

If + Past Simple, + Future in the past (=If + Subject + Verb 2, + Subject + would + Verb 1)

 

If I were a bird, I would be very happy.

I would go abroad if I had a lot of money.

( Future in the Past)

If today were Sunday, We would be at home.

 

: Verb to be were   Main Clause (if-clause) would (should)

 

would, should  (Certain Result)

might could  (Possibility)

could   (Permission or Ability)

If she came, I should see her                        (Certain result)                        (382)

If she came, I might see her.

(Possible result)

If it stopped snowing, you could go out

(ability, permission)

: Tense

: ( possible conditions)

 

1)…………

If + Present + will + 1

 

: If he hurries, he will be in time.

If john tries hard, he will succeed.

2)………………

If + Past + would + 1

 

 

: If   David hurried, he would be in time.

If she left early, she would catch the train.    (383)

 

(Past)

 

: Tense

: (Unreal Conditions)

 

If+ Past Perfect + Would have + 3

 

 

If he had gone there, I would have seen him.

The soldiers would have fought better if they had been given clear orders.

If Daeng had studied harder, he would not have failed.

Past Perfect Continuous If-sentence:-

If he had been listening carefully, he wouldn’t have misunderstood.                 (384)

If

: (Conditional Sentense If- sentence)

:If-clause If-Sentence if      if       if     should, were, had  if  Question Mark :-

Should: should you see Katty, tell her I want to visit.

(=If you see Katty, tell her I want to visit.)

Should the weather be too bad, we won’t go for a picnic.

If the weather is too bad, we won’t go for a picnic.)

Should you find it, please send it to me.

( If you find it, please send it to me.)

 

Were : Were they to go, I would give them money.

(=If they went, I would give them money.)

(If they were to go, I would give them money.)

Were it not so late, she would telephone me.

(= If it weren’t so late, she would telephone me.)

 Were they here, they would tell me.

(=If they were here, they would tell me.)

 

 had: Had I known her address, I would have visited her.    (385)

(=If I had known her address, I would have visited her.)

Had he had much money, he would have bought a new car.

(=If he had had much money, he would have bought a new car.)

 

If                                             If

 

If       if        ( words used instead of “if ”) :-

Unless = (= if…….not) :-

Unless there is some rain, the flowers will die.

(=If there is no rain, the flowers will die.)

You will fail unless you study harder.

(= You will fail if you don’t study harder.)

Peter will miss the bus unless he runs.

(= Peter will miss the bus if he doesn’t run.)

Unless bad weather stops me, I go for a picnic every Sunday.

Even if:_

 

Even if I had no money, I wouldn’t borrow any from my friends.

Marry never hurries even if she is very late

:-.

so long as

suppose (that)

supposing (that)

provided (Chat)

on condition (that)

in case

If-clause         Tense    If-clause  Main clause                        (386)

 

 

If-clause	Main clause
–          Present Simple –          Past Simple –          Past Perfect	Future Simple Future in the Past Future Perfect in the past

 

 

 

Choose the best answer for each of the following sentences.

 

1.The principal…………in if you call at 10 a.m.

1. was b. is                 c. will be                     d. would be
2. If you………………. those lists, we’ll start arranging the lists.
3. check b. checked c. have check               d. will have checked

3 You will be paid tomorrow ……………..he work is finished by then.

1. but for b. unless          c. on condition that     d. only then

4.She…………………… into hospital if her illness gets any worse.

1. will have gone b. will have to go c. will be going d. will go
2. If you ……………the bill, youin trouble.
3. had not paid, would have been  b. did not pay , would be
4. haven’t paid , will have been d. had not paid, would be
5. He wouldn’t be so tired if he………….so hard.
6. don’t work b. won’t work              c. hadn’t worked         d. didn’t work

7.you……………..better if you had tried harder.

1. had b. had done                 c. would do                 d. would have done

8………………….he is mistaken, he’s seen that man before

1. Supposing b. if                              c. Unless                      d. Providing
2. If you meet the Browns there……………….. me to them .
3. remembered b. have remembered c. remember    d. remembering
4. Amnat would not have been killed if he…………………..there.
5. wouldn’t have gone b. hadn’t gone c. would go     d. went
6. If I ……………..a bird, I would fly everywhere.
7. am b. was                         c. would be      d. were
8. They………..next week if you write them an official letter of invitation.
9. com b. have come               c. will come     d. will have com                      13. We can extend our building……………. We  have enough money.
10. that b. unless                      c. but for         d. provided that
11. If you finish your work today……………….me a visit at 5 p.m.
12. give b. gave                         c. will give      d. giving
13. She……………..if she’d had more time.
14. could have come b. will have come        c. could come  d. were to come

 

 

1. C 2.  A    3.  C    4.  B    5.  A    6.  D    7.  D    8.  C    9.  C    10.  B  11.  D  12.  C  13.  D  14.  A         15.  A              (387)

 

 

 

 

Subjunctive

 

: Subjunctive

: Subjunctive (wish) (Possibility) (Condition), (Doubt) ”  :-

 

1. Present Subjunctive
2. Past Subjunctive

 

 

Present Subjunctive

: Present Subjunctive  ?  Present Subjunctive

: Present Subjunctive      Tense Verb to be    “be” :-

 

The teacher suggested that everybody read this book .

(everybody  read      Present Subjunctive)

She insists that he come.

I suggest that he be punctual.

We have decided that we leave this old house.

The doctor advised that my mother take a rest.

Present Subjunctive :-

I suggested that she not go there alone.

The teacher advised that he not speak loud in the class.            (388)

Our mother suggests that we not be lazy.

:  (spoken language)   (informal)  should +  Present Subjunctive:-

The doctor recommended that she should take this medicine .

(=The doctor recommended that she take this medicine.)

It is advisable that he should practice speaking English.

(=It is advisable that he practice speaking English.)

 

Present Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive   ……….

)  + that  :-

Ask that

Urge

Order that

Prefer that

Insist that

Advise that

Suggest that

Require that

Request that

Demand that

Propose that

Recommend that

 

 

: I ask that I be allowed to see the prime Minister.

She requested that he telephone her family.

I demanded that Jimmy go to see a doctor at once.

The hostess urge that we all stay for dinner           (389)

The teacher recommended that every student buy a dictionary.

 

) It is ( was) + Adjective + that :-

 

It is necessary that he go home at once.

It’s important that she be brave.

It was essential that we buy food yesterday .

It is advisable that he take exercise every morning.

It’s proper that she practice driving a car.

It is strange that John remember my words.

 

Present Subjunctive (It is important + for someone + to-infinitive):-

 

Present Subjunctive:  It is important that you follow the construction.

To-infinitive                It is important that for you to follow the construction.

It is necessary that Tom earn his living by himself.

= It is necessary for Tom to earn his living by himself.

 

Past Subjunctive

 

:  Past Subjunctive?

:  Past Subjunctive: –

 

It’s time + 1

It’s night time+

It’s night noon +

……+ would rather

: It is time the children went to bed.               (390)

It’s time the guests went back.

It’s high time we began to work.

It’s high noon they signed the contract.

I would rather you went to the party.

He would rather his friends came here.

 

(Past Subjunctive   )

Past Subjunctive

It is time + for someone + to infinitive

 

It is time for children to go bed.

It is high time for us to begin to work.

It is high noon for them to sign the contract.

It is time for her to be married.

 

Subjunctive  Wish Form

 

Subjunctive Wish form wish form

 

Wish form        wish form         :-

 

1) wish  (Verb to be) :-

I wish I were a policeman now.                      (391)

 

I wish I worked three days a week.

2)wish            had+ ( Perfect Subjunctive) :-

 

 

 

I wish I had worked in Saudi Arabia last year.

I wish she had not come to the party last night.

I wish you had visited my mother in London last month.

3) wish would + :-

I wish he would come next week.

I wish I would be there tomorrow.

: would (should)  :-

I wish I could go to the party tonight.

She wishes she could pass her examination next year.  (393)

Wish form :-

wish +Past Simple

wish + Past  Perfect

Wish + Future in the past.

 

 

Wish Form

 

: Wish Form   Subjunctive ?

:  :-

As if

As though

If only

:-

As if   as though Present Simple  as if, as though Past Simple:-

 

He talks as if ( as though) he were a doctor.

: Verb to be were

She acts as if ( as though) She knew it well.

 

As if , as though Past simple as if , as though  Past perfect:-

He talked as if (as though) it had rained very hard yesterday.

 

If only

) if only   Past Simple if only Future Simple in the past: –

 

If only he were more careful, he would pass his exam.              (393)

 

If only I were here, I should meet her.

 

 

) if only  Past Perfect if only  Future Perfect in the Past :-

 

If only Daeng hadn’t gone there, he wouldn’t have been killed.

He would have been made the president if only he had been a qualified man .

 

Choose the best answer for each of the following sentences.

1. Is it necessary that he…………….in hospital for two weeks.
2. stay b. stays            c. stayed          d. would stay
3.   I demand that she………………to see a doctor at once .
4. goes b. went            c. go                d. would go
5. It’s time my father…………..
6.   be retired    b. were retired c. retiring         d. should be retiring
7. The teacher recommended that every student………a dictionary
8. buys b. buy              c. bought         d. would buy
9. It was essential that she…………..to do that yesterday.
10. decides b. decides        c. decide          d. would decide
11. She demanded………….more if we went to enter the competition.
12. that we paractise b. in practicing            c. us to practice           d. would be
13. I wish last night’s programme…………….more exciting.
14. had been b. was              c. has been       d. would be
15. The party yesterday was wonderful. I wish all of my friend. …………..
16. will come b. would come   c. came          d. could have come
17. I can’t speak English fluently, but I wish ……………soon.
18. can b. colud           c. would          d. had
19. He walks as if he ………………………..a doctor, but in fact he isn’t.
20. was b. were            c. had been      d. would be

 

11. It looked as though it………………….hard
12. rained b. was raining  c. had rained    d. would rain
13. He………………………… .he president if only he had been a qualified man.
14. would be made b. had been made        c. was made    d. would have been made
15. Do you wish you…………….during some time in the past？
16. had live b. could live                c. lived            d. might live
17. The doctor recommended that she………..a long holiday.
18. took b. take                         c. takes                        d. had taken.    (394)

 

 

15. ………………………………………….it less expensive, we would buy it.
16. Only if b. Were                        c. Should         d. But for

16 “ Do you like your new job ?” “ Yes, but my employer insists that I………….on time.”

1. was b. be                            c. am                d. have been
2. He advised………………………at the air terminal at 4 o’clock.
3. to us that we there b. us in being               c. that we be    d. we should have been
4. It is necessary that one……………………….the instruction before taking it.
5. read b. reads                        c. will read      d. should be reading
6. It is necessary that……………………………………
7. we should be translated one book to English from Japanese.
8. he translate one book to English from Japanese.
9. They translate the book from English into Japam=nses.
10. she translate a book form English in Japanses.

 

20. It is advisable……………………………………….
21. that he will speak to her privately
22. that he speaks to her privately.
23. he privately speak to her
24. in speaking to her privately.

21.Don’t they wish they…………………………….us longer holidays this summer?

1. would give b. gave                         c. will give                  d. had given
2. They wish now that they…………………………….English instead of when they were in school.
3. study b. studied                    c. had studies              d. . have had studies
4. I can’t speak English fluently, but I wish I………………………………..soon.
5. can b. could                                   c. would r                    d. had
6. I am sorry I forget to invite you to my anniversary. I wish I ………………….to send you the invitation card.
7. remembered b. could remember      c. would remember      d. had remembered

 

25. I wish I ………………………your parents. It’s I………………them.

 

1. had know, knew b. would known, shouldn’t know
2. knew, don’t know d. could know, didn’t know

 

1. A 2. C 3. B     4. B     5. C     6. A     7. A     8. D     9. B     10. B   11. C   12. D   13. A   14. B   15. B         16. B   17. C   18. A   19. D   20. B   21. C   22. C   23. B   24. D   25. C (395)