Unreality in Exclamatory Sentences

Past Indefinite (or were) is used in exclamatory sentences to ex­press a wish which cannot be fulfilled:

§ Oh, if only Daddy were home!

§ If onlyI knew what to do! (refers to the present)

§ Oh, if he had given me a chance! (refers to the past)

 

When the sentence refers to the future would * + Infini­tive or could + Infinitive is used:

§ If it would only stop raining for a single day!

EXERCISES:

 

Ex. 112. Supply the necessary forms of the verbs in brackets in the follow­ing conditional sentences:

1. If his mother (not to go) out, the boy (to turn) off the TV set and (to go) to bed. 2. I (to wait) if I (to be) you. 3. She (to fall) if he suddenly (not to put) out a hand to steady her. 4. If I (to be) a poet I (to write) a poem about nettles in a wine glass. 5. If it (to be) not for the journalists, everything (to be) perfectly easy. 6. If your father (to be) here, he (to give) you a piece of his mind. 7. I'm glad that he turned this offer down. There (to be) no turning back if he (to accept) it. 8. "She is only twenty." "She (to know) better if she (to be) twenty-five?" 9. I do not know what (to happen) if this (to go) on much longer. 10. Don't you see that if things like that (to happen) life (to be) quite different? 11. You really (to follow) me if I (to go) away? 12. I believe you (to make) her stay if it (to be) not so late. 13. It (to be) better if you (to take) things coolly, as I do.

Ex. 113. Explain the use of the verb forms in the following conditional sentences referring to the future and translate them into Russian:

1. Would you do it differently if you had to do it over again? 2. However, if it should be proved on him, he will have to leave my house. 3. It would be much more convenient if he were to move to a hotel. 4. I think it would be a good thing if you would come and stay at my house for a little while. 5. They are going to send me some records in case I should forget my lessons. 6. If I were to tell you of the things the girl does, you would open your eyes. 7. I should certainly try to deserve your confidence if you would give me another chance. 8. "I don't care if the whole school knows." "If that should hap­pen, we shall have to send you home." 9. The situation was embarrassing. If I went in at once it would be obvious that I had overheard the words that had just been spoken.

Ex. 114. Supply the necessary forms of the verbs in brackets in the follow­ing conditional sentences referring to the future:

1. I (to be) grateful if you (to keep) the news to yourself. 2. I (to be) in the drawing-room in case there (to be) a telephone call for me. 3. Many people ask themselves: "What I (to do) differently if I (to have) another chance?" 4. He wondered how he (to feel) if his former wife (to come) into the room in which he happened to be. 5. I know he is itching to tell me what happened, but he (to be) darned if I (to ask) him. 6. Philip says they (to miss) me if I (to leave) before their wedding. 7. Look here, it (to be) a bore for you if we (to have) tea some­where? 8. In case any crisis (to arise), let me know. 9. The situation has been bad lately, but everything (to calm) down if you only (to stop) making a fuss. 10. If this (to be) our last meeting for some time, I (not to like) you to remember this talk. 11. It (to be) awkward if she (to refuse) to co-operate. 12. What his mother and father (to think) if they (to hear) of what he has done? 13. If the situation (not to change) by Saturday I (to be) in trouble. 14. I (not to be) surprised if he (to offer) an important post under the next government.

Ex. 115. Supply the necessary forms of the verbs in brackets in the follow­ing sentences of unreal condition, taking special care of modal verbs:

1. "Are you still thinking of going on that cruise? " "It (may, be) enjoyable," he said, "if one (to nave) just the right person to go with." 2. It (to be) fun if Roberta (to write) a book. 3. I never tried to understand my brother. If I (to try) I (may, stop) him from going away. 4. If I (to be) you, Meg, I (not to let) myself believe this hateful gossip. 5. I (to hate) myself if I (to deceive) him. 6. I suppose you (to think) it butting in if I (to come) too. 7. He said he had no pain, and if it (not to be) forthe doctor, he (to get) up and (to go) home. 8. She (can, go) to Cambridge if she (to want). She had been offered a scholarship. 9. You (to be) horrified if I (to tell) you what I have had to go through. 10. If he (not to be) absorbed in his own thoughts he (may, take) notice of her remark. 11. I'm glad I wasn't at home. He (not to get) much help if he (to ask) me. 12. The house looked awful. If I (to be) given to crying I (may, cry). 13. "No, I won't tell you," she said. "It (not to be) fair to them if it just (to turn) out to be gossip." 14. It (may, be) fatal if she (to learn) the truth. 15. "May I read this?" "I (not to bother) if I (to be) you." 16. If I (to keep) to my original plan I (to miss) the whole affair. 17. There is no knowing how long he (to continue) on the subject if his attention (not to distract) by a man who appeared on the deck. 18. You don't understand, Lilly. If I (to pick) his idea to pieces in front of you he (to die). 19. Alice thought it (may, be) nice if you (can, join) us. 20. It (to look) silly if I (to tell) them the truth. 21. If I (to be) you, I (to try) to rise above it. 22. If I (to be) there, of course, I (to do) something. 23. If it (not to be) for the children I (to leave) you tomorrow. 24. If I (to be) a painter, I (to choose) an entirely different subject every time. 25. Well, I certainly (to put) a stop to it if I (to know) in time. 26. I (to wire) to you if you (can, do) anything.

Ex. 116. Turn the following pairs of sentences into a sentence of unreal condition, like in the example below:

e.g. Don't refuse her present. It will upset her dreadfully. →

If you were to refuse her present it would upset her dreadfully.

1. Don't ask me. I can't tell you. 2. You haven't got to the city yet because you are not travelling alone. 3. He was not captain of the team because he was very unpopu­lar. 4. He was not a handsome man. He was not tall enough. 5. She did not reply. That's why I couldn't hear her. 6. She didn't enjoy the game because she discovered that her opponent disliked losing. 7. I'm not going to make my suggestion. He may think I'm pry­ing into his affairs. 8. As nobody told him anything about this affair he was not involved in it. 9. Luckily he is not going to be invited to the party. He says he doesn't know what to wear on such occasions. 10. We enjoy the spring so much because of the winter. 11. Though I feel certain that nothing is going to happen to him I shall stay in my office the whole day. 12. Darling, please show Harry the garden. Won't it be very nice? 13. It's not likely that John will turn his back to my sister but I wonder what effect it will have on her nerves.

Ex. 117. Translate the following conditional sentences into English:

1. Я бы никогда не подумал, что это возможно, если бы я не увидел этого своими глазами. 2. Я бы не стал делать этого на твоем месте. 3. В случае если тебе придется неожиданно уехать, пришли мне записку. 4. Пьеса понравилась бы мне больше, если бы она не была такой длинной. 5. Если бы не его болезнь, семья переехала бы в город. 6. Если бы он пришел вовремя, этого могло бы не случиться. 7. Если бы пошел дождь, я бы промокла до костей, так как на мне было очень легкое платье. 8. Куда бы ты пошел, если бы не было дождя? 9. Посиди с ним, и, если он вдруг попросит чего-нибудь, ска­жи мне. 10. Если бы я сказал что-нибудь подобное твоей тетушке, она сочла бы меня сумасшедшим. 11. Я буду у себя дома весь вечер на случай, если ты передумаешь. 12. Возможно, он чувствовал и вел бы себя иначе, если бы об­стоятельства были иными. 13. Если бы ты не был так занят, мы могли бы пойти куда-нибудь пообедать. 14. Если бы я задержался еще на один момент, я не знаю, что я мог бы наговорить. 15. Если бы у нас не было багажа, мы могли бы дойти до стан­ции пешком.

Ex. 118. Revision: supply the necessary forms of the verbs in brackets in the following adverbial clauses:

1. If I (to realize) it was to be like this, I (not to come). 2. Now she acted as if she (not to care). 3. They drove with the windows closed so that they (not to catch) cold. 4. If he (not to tell) us that himself I never (to believe) that. 5. He walked out of the house jingling the keys in his pocket as though they (to be) coins. 6. I was waiting until you came so that we (to eat) together. 7. He talked quite naturally, without malice, as though he (not to relate) his war experiences, but his visits to foreign universities. 8. Even if I (to see) her at the party I (can, do) nothing for you. 9. She sent a message to some friends asking them to look in so that she (not to be) alone with Ed in the evening. 10. Don't you think it (to be) very much for the better if you and I both (to keep) quiet? 11. If anyone (to ask) me what his specific gift was, I (not to know) how to answer. 12. She said she (to be) pleased if my mother (to allow) me to spend the rest of the month with them. 13. The wind blew warmly as if it (to sweep) across Africa. 14. The boy hurried his meal so that he (to go) out to play. 15. Mary is staying with me. I think it (to be) a good thing if you (to come) and (to see) her. 16. If we ever (to happen) to meet again I (to act) as if this letter never (to write).

Ex. 119. Revision: translate the following into English using the appropri­ate verb forms in adverbial clauses:

1. Если вдруг возникнет какая-нибудь трудность, позвони мне тотчас же. 2. Он улыбался, как будто не веря тому, что я говорю. 3. Запри дверь, чтобы нам никто не мешал. 4. Девочка сидела тихо, как будто смотрела телевизор. 5. Для нас было бы лучше, если бы мы никогда не встрети­лись. 6. Он говорил о книге, как если бы он ее читал. 7. Я оставил ему записку на столе, чтобы он ее увидел, как только вернется. 8. Он не сказал ни слова, как будто он не слышал, что мы разговаривали о нем. 9. Если бы не ты, я не знаю, что бы я сделал. 10. Повесь объявление повыше, чтобы всем было видно. 11. Если бы не дедушка, мальчик был бы очень несчастлив дома. 12. Она записала название книги, чтобы я мог спросить ее в библиотеке. 13. Он сказал то, что другие тоже могли бы сказать, будь они более откровенны. 14. Пол в комнате был такой грязный, как будто его не подмета­ли несколько дней. 15. Он был бы более счастливым человеком, если бы он остался в своей деревне. 16. Он улыбнулся и похлопал ее по плечу, как маленького ре­бенка. 17. Он чувствовал, что если бы он отказался от этого предложе­ния, отец рассердился бы на него. 18. Мы успели бы на последний автобус, если бы ушли из теа­тра на пять минут раньше. 19. Она даже намекнула, что, если бы они встретились десять лет назад, когда им было по двадцать лет, все могло бы сложиться иначе.

UNIT 18

Free Use of Unreality

The choice of forms expressing unreality depends on kinds of clauses and on the lexical character of the verb in the principal clause. Other forms of unreality may be used free and are determined by the speaker's attitude towards the action.

If an action is represented as an actual fact, the Indica­tive Mood is used. But if it is unreal condition, the Con­ditional Mood is used to express the action as contradicting re­ality. This use of the Conditional Mood is found in simple sentences in the present.

§ "Are you going to marry? I think it would be very unwise. (condi­tion is "if you married her".)

§ I wouldn't sell the picture for ten thousand dollars.(if I were you)

 

When the situation refers to the past, the Past Conditional Mood is used.

§ Twenty years ago I would have strongly disliked you.(condition is "if it had been yearsago")

§ I should never have thought it possible.

The modal verbs can and may are used to express unreality. With reference to the present or future, they are fol­lowed by the simple infinitive; to the past - with the Perfect infinitive.

§ He's never asked me about it though he knows I could never tell him a lie.

§ There was a wonderful concert we could have gone to. But we missed it.

§ Why on earth didn't he send to say that he was ill? We might have helped him.

Sometimes unreality is implied by a special ad­verbial modifier of condition:

§ But for you, I would give up everything.(But for... in Russian: если бы не...)

The Conditional Mood and could and might are also used in clauses with implied condition in attributive, object, adverbial clauses, etc.

§ I know he wouldn't have enjoyed her story.

Sometimes the Conditional Mood and could and might are used for more polite meaning, the Past Conditional expressing the high­est degree of politeness.

§ "How long did you wait?" "I would say a good five minutes." (Я бы сказал...)

There are modal verbs and phrases which are the Subjunctive Mood or the Conditional Mood only by origin. Now they do not express unreality. They are: should and ought to and the set phrases had better, would rather, would sooner, should (would) like.

§ She decided that they had better stay in town.