Mood

Mood is a grammatical category of the verb expressing modality, i.e. the relation of the action
denoted by the predicate to reality from the speaker’s point of view.

The Oblique Moods

The function of the oblique moods is to represent something in the speaker’s mind not as a
real fact but as a wish, purpose, supposition, doubt or condition, problematic or contrary to
fact. When the speaker expresses his wish by using one of the oblique moods (the
Subjunctive I, the Subjunctive II, the Conditional or the Suppositional Mood), he merely
communicates to the hearer what he considers desirable.

Mood Subjunctive I Subjunctive the Conditional the

Form II Mood Suppositional
Mood

Non-perfect be were would/should be should be

(Present) work worked would/should should worked
go went worked should go
would/sould go

Perfect — had been would/should have should have been

(Past) had worked been should have
had gone would/should have worked
worked should have gone
would/should have
gone

The Subjunctive I 
Form: Subjunctive I is a synthetical form which survived from Old English. It has only one
form, which coincides with the he infinitive without the particle to.: be, do, have, go, write, etc.

It has no tense distinctions – the same form may refer to the present, past and future.

Meaning: Both Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood express problematic actions, not
necessarily contradicting reality. These actions are presented as necessity, order, suggestion,
supposition, desire, request, etc.

Expressing the same kind of modality, Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood are used in
the same syntactic structures and are, to a great extent, interchangeable. However, they differ
stylistically: thus, in the British variant of the English language Subjunctive I is only preserved
in elevated prose, poetry or official documents. In neutral, everyday speech the Suppositional
Mood is used.
Use: A. Simple Sentence

In simple sentences only Subjunctive I is used in a few set expressions as a survival of old
usage (the so-called formulaic expressions).

1. Most of them express a wish:

Long live the Army!

Success attend you!

2. Some formulaic expressions have a concessive meaning:

Happen (come) what may (will).

Cost what it may.

So be it (Be it so).

Subjunctive I in these expressions may be replaced by Let + Infinitive:

Let it be so.

3. The only productive pattern of a simple sentence with Subjunctive I is the sentence
expressing a command or a request with an indefinite pronoun as the subject:

Everybody leave the room!

Somebody switch off the light!

Subjunctive I may be replaced in such sentences by “let + Infinitive”:

Let everybody leave the room.

B. Complex Sentence

Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood are used in nominal (subject, object, predicative),
attributive appositive and some adverbial clauses.

The Suppositional Mood

Form:  The Suppositional Mood is an analytical form which is built up with the help of the
auxiliary verb should for all persons + the Infinitive. The non-perfect Suppositional mood:
should be, should do, should write. The perfect Suppositional Mood: should have been,
should have done, should have written.

Meaning: Both Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood express problematic actions, not
necessarily contradicting reality. These actions are presented as necessity, order, suggestion,
supposition, desire, request, etc.
Use: A. Simple Sentence

The Suppositional Mood is used only in one type of interrogative sentences beginning
with And what if …? (А якщо раптом …?):

And what if he should come back?

B. Complex Sentence

Subjunctive I and the Suppositional Mood are used in nominal (subject, object, predicative),
attributive appositive and some adverbial clauses.

Subjunctive II
Form: Subjunctive II has two basic forms: non-perfect Subjunctive II is synthetical and
coincides with the Past Indicative: spoke, went, built, wrote, did, etc. The only exception is the
verb to be, whose Subjunctive II from is were for all persons: I/she/he/ it were (was is also
possible with I/he/she/it and is more common in conversational English). Perfect Subjunctive
II coincides with the Past Perfect Indicative for all verbs: had done, had gone, had written, etc.

Meaning: Subjunctive II represents an action as contrary to reality:

I always wish I were like you (as a matter of fact, I am not like you).

Use: Subjunctive II is used in simple sentences and in certain subordinate clauses of a

complex sentence.

The Conditional Mood

Form: the Conditional Mood is an analytical form built up by means of the auxiliary
verb should (for the 1st person) of would (for all persons) and the Infinitive. The non-perfect
Conditional Mood employs the indefinite or continuous Infinitive: should do, would be going;
the perfect Conditional Mood is formed with the help of the perfect or perfect continuous
Infinitive: should have done, would have been reading.

In Modern English for the first person should and would are both possible with no real
difference in meaning:

I should (would) never have thought you read anything but the sporting news.

Meaning: The Conditional Mood, like Subjunctive II, represents an action as contradicting
reality. The different between the two moods is in their form and in their usage.

Use: The Conditional Mood is used to denote unreal actions in simple and complex

sentences