Competent letter writing. How to write and format business letters correctly

The category of mood in the English language is one of the most difficult topics to study due to the cumbersomeness of grammatical structures, time periods, varieties of language units and the complexity of the semantic load of each individual sentence.

What is inclination

This conjugated, expressing the speaker’s position in relation to the action. Subjunctive Mood suggests intentions, recommendations, guesses, suspicion or impossibility, i.e. – certain imaginary situations that are feasible under certain criteria.

It sounds like past form of the verb with the particle "would".

Subjunctive I and Subjunctive II are determined.

Attention! Subjunctive Mood is used in subordinate constructions, usually conditional (including the subjunctive mood after I wish). Examples will be discussed below.

Sub. I is synthetic (simple) form, which is denoted in Present, Past and Perfect . A verb in the subjunctive mood is placed in the infinitive. Sub. I is more often used in scientific and formal business styles, For he is uncharacteristic of oral speech. Expresses (in)appropriate recommendations, requests, instructions, etc.

Present Sub. I is used:

1. With emotional phrases God save the King/ Queen, Heaven forbid, God bless, etc.
2. After order/command/recommendation verbs (advise - advise, recommend - recommend, etc.) etc. Ex.: Our boss demands that we prepare this presentation today. – Our boss requires us to prepare a presentation today.
3. After stable phrases It is (was) necessary/It is (was) recommended/It is (was) curable/It is (was) better, etc. Ex.: It was recommended that patients should visit the doctor twice a year. – Patients were advised to visit the doctor twice a year.

Past Sub. I defines unreal action taking place in the present or future tense. Corresponds to the second form of the verb. Ex.: If Susan had more experience, she would take this job. If Susan had been more experienced, she would have gotten the job.

Perfect Sub. I stands for surreal action in the past. Formation: had + verb in the third form. Ex.: If you had seen him you would have known all the news. – If you met him, you would know all the news.

Past Sub. I and Perfect Sub.I are used:

1. To express unreal, unrealistic facts. Ex.: If I were to tell you everything, you would be amazed. “If I had to tell you everything, you would be surprised.”
2. Subjunctive mood after I wish. Ex.: I wish I had never met him. “I wish I had never met him.”
3. In comparative constructions with conjunctions as if/as though. Ex.: The girl spoke as if she had learned it all by heart. – The girl spoke as if she had learned it by heart.
4. After fixed expressions It’s (about/high) time/If only, denoting regret. Ex.: If only she told me! “If only she had told me.”
5. In constructions had better/would rather + infinitive as advice. Ex.: You had better book hotel early. – It would be better for you to book a hotel in advance.

Attention! Design to wish smth. will be discussed in a separate paragraph below. Looking ahead, we note that the subjunctive mood after I wish is also translated into the past form of the verb with the particle “would”.

Subjunctive II – analytical (complex) form, expressed in Present and Perfect. Expresses the intended action or regret, indignation, impatience, etc. towards the action that took place.

Present Sub. II stands for action synchronous with action in the main sentence. Formation: would + infinitive. Ex.: It is strange that Bob behaves in such a way. “It’s not normal for Bob to behave this way.”

Perfect Sub. II stands for the period of time preceding another action in the main sentence. Formation: shoud/would + have + verb in the third form. Ex.: It’s strange that Anna shouldn’t have done hometask. – It’s strange that Anna didn’t do her homework.

Subjunctive II is used:

1. After stable phrases it is/was strange/necessary/important/impossible/a pity, etc. Ex.: It is important that all the pupils should be met after school. – It is important that all schoolchildren are met after school.
2. After the verbs wishes, instructions, assumptions, recommendations, insistence, regret, etc. Ex.: Police suggested that he should be still in the town. “The police assumed he was still in town.”
3. In Conditionals, where the event is unlikely to occur. Ex.: If you should come up with it, will you inform me? – If you find another way, will you let me know?
4. In emotional sentences expressing puzzlement, indignation, etc. Ex.: Why would you suspect me? - Why do you suspect me?

Attention! Conditionals will be considered in a separate paragraph below, since they are closely related to the subjunctive mood.

Conditionals in English

Conditionals consists of a conditional part (starts with if) and an effective part.

Highlight 4 leading types Conditionals in English. There are also mixed types of conditional sentences, but we won’t talk about them.

1. 0 (zero) Conditional (zero type) – well-known circumstances and facts, directions and instructions. If/When + Present Simple (condition), Pr. Simple (result). Ex.: Put on a warm coat, if you don’t want to catch cold. – Put on your coat if you don’t want to catch a cold.
2. 1st Conditional – real action which may come true in the present or near future. If + Pr. Ind. (condition), Fut. Ind./Imperative/Pr. Ind. (result). Ex.: If you go shopping today, buy me some eggs. – If you go shopping, buy me eggs. If you see someone trying to break in, you will call the police. “If you see someone trying to break into (the house), you call the police.”
3. 2nd Conditional – "unreal present". This is an imaginary event that is opposed to real facts and is unlikely to occur. Also expresses regret about something. Formation: If + Past Simple (condition), would/could + verb without to (result). Ex.: If you would only come to our place, we would be very glad. – If you visit our place one day, we will be very happy. If I met Bred Pitt, I would ask for his autograph. – If I met Brad Pitt, I would ask for his autograph (but it is unlikely that I will meet him).
4. 3rd Conditional – "unreal past", i.e. regret about what happened and the lack of opportunity to change something. Formation: If + Past Perfect (condition), would have + verb in 3rd form (result). Ex.: If he had told us he was coming over, we would have prepared something to eat. – If he had told us that he would join, we would have prepared something to eat (but he didn’t say so and we didn’t prepare food). If she hadn’t gone through the traffic lights, she wouldn’t have hit the pedestrian. – If she had not gone to the traffic light, she would not have hit the pedestrian (if she had braked at the right moment, she would not have hit the person).

The condition can appear in different parts of the sentence.

3 types of conditional sentences.

Attention! The condition If I were... (imagine yourself in someone else's place) is grammatically unchangeable for all persons and numbers. Ex.: Even if it were true, he couldn’t say so. “Even if it were true, he couldn’t say it.” If Tom were you, he would try to find a new job. – If Tom were in your place, he would try to find another job.

Subjunctive mood after I wish

This type of sentence is also conditional, but they are studied separately from other conditional constructions due to their grammatical features. Typically, these sentences express regret, disappointment, or unmet expectations. The subjunctive mood after I wish is formed as follows:

• wish + Past Simple/Continuous – wishing for something to be different in the present. Ex.: I wish I were thinner. – I would like to be slimmer (but I’m fat);
• wish + past perfect – regret about a certain period of time what happened or did not happen in the past. Ex.: I wish I hadn’t eaten so much at dinner. – I wish I didn’t eat so much for dinner (but I’m full and it’s hard for me);
• wish + would - expression of frustration or lack of hope. Ex.: I wish it would get warmer. – I would like it to become warmer (but I’m afraid it won’t happen).

The subjunctive mood after I wish is not in the main clause, but in the subordinate clause.

Subjunctive mood in English. Exercise

Conditional mood in English

Conclusion

The subjunctive mood after I wish in particular and in general in English is indeed complex topic, requiring a certain level of knowledge. But if you sit a little while doing the exercises, then everything will fall into place, and you there will be no difficulty in understanding this topic.

If you fantasize, speculate, wish, or simply daydream, use Subjunctive Mood or Conditionals to express it in English.

SENTENCES STARTING WITH I WISH. Theory.

A special group of the subjunctive mood consists of sentences that begin with the words I wish(How I wish it were...). Such proposals express

• or a wish regarding a change in the situation in the present (unreal present),
• or regret regarding an event that has already happened/not happened in the past (unreal past).
• or wishes regarding changes in the situation in the future (desired future)

I wish in sentences related to the present.

Sentences expressing desires and relating to present time

How I wish it were... / It's a pity that

• Simple Past
• Past Continuous
• could + infinitive without to

Examples with translation:

I wish it was not raining now. – I wish it wasn’t raining now. (Too bad it's raining now.)

I wish I could speak. French. – I wish I could speak French. (It's a pity that I can't speak French.)

Pay attention!

In such sentences the verb to be is used in the subjunctive mood were(would be, would be, would be) for all persons singular and plural.

I wish he were here now. “I wish he were here.” (Too bad he's not here now).

I wish I were a pilot. - What a pity that I’m not a pilot.

Sentences starting with I wish, in which a desire is expressed regarding a change in the situation in the present, are correlated with (unreal present):

I wish I were lying on the beach at the moment. — If I were lying on the I beach, it would be better. “I wish I could lie on the beach right now.”

I wish I knew the answer. = If I knew the answer, it would be better. - How I would like to know the answer.

I wish I could get a better job. = If I could get a better job, it would be / better. - I wish I had a better job.

Wish in sentences relating to the past.

Sentences expressing regret and related to the past tense, translated into Russian:

What a pity that...

How I wish that...

After wish in such sentences it is used

• Past Perfect,
• Past Perfect Continuous

I wish you had had time then. “I wish you had time then.” (It's a pity you didn't have time then.)

I wish I had known that Ann was ill. “It’s a pity that I didn’t know that Anna was sick.”

Sentences starting with I wish, in which regret is expressed regarding an event that has already happened/has not happened in the past, are correlated with:

I wish I had met him earlier. = If I had met him earlier, it would have changed my life. - What a pity that I didn’t meet him earlier. If only I had met him earlier...

I wish I had been wiser. = If I had been wiser, I wouldn’t have done I such a silly thing. - What a pity that I was not wiser. / If only I were wiser...

I wish I hadn’t eaten so much chocolate. = If I hadn’t eaten so I much chocolate, I wouldn’t feel ill now. - What a pity that I ate so much chocolate. / If only I hadn't eaten so much chocolate...

I wish in sentences related to the future.

If the action expressed by the predicate of an additional subordinate clause expresses a desire to change something in the present or future, then after wish it is used

• would + infinitive

I wish he would stop lying. “I wish he would stop lying.”

Sentences starting with I wish, which express a wish for the future, are correlated with:

I wish he would stop lying. – If he stops lying it will be better.

Sentences with if only.

Instead of words I wish can be used if only. Such sentences are more emotionally charged compared to sentences with I wish. They can be translated into Russian with the words “If only...”, “How I wish...”.

If only I were rich. - If only I were rich. = I wish I were rich.

I wish / if only: exercises with answers.

Exercise 1. Put the verbs given in brackets into the correct form.

1. I wish I __________ (be) taller so that I could be in the basketball team.
2. I wish I ___________ (can drive) a car and we could go travelling.
3. The Browns live in the city, but they wish they ________ (live) in the suburbs.
4. Robert can’t dance very well, but he wishes he ________ (can dance) better.
5. Kate is having a hard time learning English at the University. She wishes she ________ (study) it better at school.
6. Mike didn't go to college after school. Now, he wishes he ________ (go) to college.
7. The weather was hot while we were there. I wish it _________ (be) a bit cooler.
8. I wish you ________ (stop) watching TV while I am talking to you.
9. I wish she _________ (can come) yesterday but she had an important meeting.
10. I wish I __________ (know) someone to whom I could have gone for advice when I was 18.

Exercise 2. Open the parentheses using the required subjunctive form after “I wish.”

1. The weather was awful. I wish it __________ (to be) better.
2. I wish I __________ (to know) Sue’s telephone number.
3. I wish it__________ (not to rain) so much in England last week.
4. Do you wish you __________ (to study) science instead of languages ​​last year?
5. I feel sick. I wish I __________ (not to eat) so much.
6. It's crowded here. I wish there __________ (not to be) so many people.
7. I wish I __________ (to be) taller.
8. I wish you __________ (stop) shouting. I am not deaf you know.
9. I wish he__________ (to borrow) that book from the library last week.
10. I wish you__________ (to give) him my phone number at that party.
11. I wish it __________ (to stop) raining.
12. I wish I ________ (can speak) several languages.
13. If only I _______ (to have) the chance to study when I was younger.

Exercise 3. Underline the correct option.

1) I wish he... (will get/got/would get) on better with his parents.

2) I wish you... (stopped/will stop/would stop) talking at the lessons.

3) I wish I... (have/had/had had) more money.

4) If only I... (was having / have had / had had) the chance to study when I was younger.

5) If only I... (would keep / kept / had kept) my appointment with the dentist yesterday. I wouldn't have toothache now.

6) If only you... (will/would/wouldn't) make less noise.

7) I wish I ... (had been / hadn't been / weren't) disappointed after such an inspiring speech yesterday.

8) If only you ... (had been / would be / were) tolerant of each other's moods in your family! You would get on better.

9) I wish I... (had learned / learned / have learned) to trust my own judgments in my childhood.

Answers to the exercises.

Exercise 1.

1 were, 2 could drive, 3 lived, 4 could dance, 5 had studied, 6 had gone, 7 had been, 8 stopped, 9 could have come, 10 had known

Exercise 2.

1 had been, 2 knew, 3 hadn't rained / hadn't been raining, 4 had studied / had been studying, 5 hadn't eaten, 6 were not, 7 were, 8 stopped, 9 had borrowed, 10 had given , 11 would stop, 12 could speak, 13 had had

Exercise 3.

1 would get, 2 would stop, 3 had, 4 had had, 5 had kept, 6 would, 7 hadn't been, 8 would be, 9 had learned

The subjunctive mood in British English refers to literary rather than colloquial speech, so in what follows it will be noted which structure is more typical of colloquial or literary language.

The subjunctive mood is most often used in complex sentences:

1. The Present Subjunctive or combination "should + infinitive" are used in subordinate explanatory clauses with the union that after verbs to order, to command, to insist, to demand, to request, to ask, to recommend, to prooose, to suggest and after some other verbs that have a similar meaning. British English has a typical structure "should + infinitive" :

We insist that a meeting should be held as soon as possible. “We insist on holding the meeting as soon as possible.”

In the American version English language and in the British newspaper version the Present Subjunctive (without should) is more often used:
We insist that a meeting be held as soon as possible (American English).

2. These forms of the subjunctive mood are used in subordinate clauses after construction it is important / vital / essential / necessary / desirable / impossible and after adjectives like eager, anxious, concerned :

Was it necessary that my uncle be informed? (American English). - Should you have told your uncle?
Is it necessary that the work shoulo be done tooay? (British English). - Is it important that the work is done today?

It should be noted that in spoken English other structures are used to express the same meaning:
The committee recommended the company to invest in new property. - The committee recommended that the company invest money in new property.
Was it necessary to inform my uncle? - Was it necessary for my uncle to be informed? - Was there a need to inform my uncle?

3. In additional clauses after the verbwish. In sentences with a verb wish expresses a desire for the course of events to change. Traditionally, there are two forms of the subjunctive mood after wish :

It depends on what action is expressed by the verb in the subordinate clause. To express an action simultaneous with the action expressed by the predicate verb of the main sentence, The Past Subjunctive from the verb to be (were) for all persons or The Past Indefinite from all other verbs is used in the subordinate clause. Note that was is also possible in sentences with wish for the 1st and 3rd persons and is typical in spoken English:

I wish it were Tuesday today = I wish it was Tuesday today. - It's a pity that today is not Tuesday.

If the verb of a subordinate clause expresses an action that precedes the action expressed in the main clause, it is in the Past Perfect in the subjunctive mood.
In actual operation, there is a problem of reconciling different tenses with wish. The following examples show how different tenses are used with wish:

In an additional clause after wish, the 2nd person pronoun + would can express a polite or impolite request, depending on the intonation:

I wish you would shut up! - You should shut up, or something!
I wish you"d give her a message for me. - Could you give her my request?

Wish + 3rd person + would can express wish for the future, be an exclamation, express irritation, complaint:

I wish she wouldn't sing in the bath. - When will she stop singing in the bathroom!
I wish the music would stop. - When will this music stop?

For expression regrets about a future action a modal verb is used in the complement clause could :

I wish they could come to see me tomorrow. - What a pity that they won’t be able to come and visit me tomorrow.

For expression wishes or hopes in the future tense Other structures may have been used, for example:

I hope you will live for a long time. (Instead of: I wish you would live...) - I hope you live a long life.

In a literary language, the verb to wish can be used with an infinitive, while wish = want, but want is more typical for colloquial speech:

I wish to see the manager, please. - Please, I want to see the manager.

More common: I want to see... I"d like to see...

Complex padding can be used to convey the same meaning:

I wish the manager to be informed at once. = I want the manager to be informed at once. - I would like the manager to be informed now.

Moreover, the use of one direct object without an infinitive after wish is impossible:

I want an appointment with the doctor. - I want to meet the doctor.
I wish an appointment with the doctor.

In Russian, a sentence with wish can correspond to: “It’s a pity that...”, “It would be nice...”, “I would like...”

4. In adverbial sentences of the manner of action, introduced by unions if, as if, as though :

He speaks English as well as if he were an Englishman. - He speaks English so well that it seems like he is English.
Does not speak English as well as if he had lived in Britain. - He speaks English as if he lived in Britain.
I wouldn't mind if he were not so rude. - I wish he weren't so rude.

In sentences of this type, the verb to be is used either in the form were (this form is more typical) or in the form was, which is possible in colloquial speech.

Were is always used in the expression as it were (= so to speak):

He was, as it were, the missing link between the artist and the commercial public. “He was, so to speak, the missing link between the artist and the businessmen.

5. The subjunctive mood is also used in conditional sentences:

In sentences that express improbable propositions relating to the present or future tense;
in sentences that express unfulfilled assumptions relating to the past tense.

Table "Use of the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences"

Both types of conditional sentences are translated into Russian in the same way, because in the Russian language there is only one form of the subjunctive mood, regardless of the time of action (past tense form + particle “would”).

Non-conjunction conditional sentences

If conditional (subordinate) clauses contain the verbs had, were, could, should, then a non-union connection between the main and subordinate clauses is possible. In this case, these verbs are placed before the subject, the conjunction if is omitted. This word order is called inversion.
The translation of such sentences should begin with the conjunction “if”.
E.g. Had he a dictionary, he could translate the text. – If he had a dictionary, he could translate the text.
Should he come, ask him to wait. – If he comes, ask him to wait.

Conditional sentences. Subjunctive mood after “I wish”

Exercise 1.
Translate the following sentences into Russian.
1. I’ll ask Tom if I see him today.
2. We would go to the party if we had time tomorrow.
3. She would pass her exam next month if she worked harder.
4. She would be happy if she met him at the party next Sunday.
5. We’ll go nowhere tomorrow if it rains.
6. If she knew his phone number, she would call him next week.
7. If J. London had not learned life from his own experience, he could not have written his great works.
8. Had the science of radio not been developed so rapidly, we should not have got such remarkable changes in the technique today.
9. Had he been a young man, he would have taken part in the expedition.
10. If you had applied this method, you would have got better results.

Exercise 2.
Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form
1. The trains all (stop) … if it snowed heavily.
2. If you (go out) … in cold weather without a coat, you would catch a cold.
3. If I saw a cheap second-hand car, I (buy) ... it.
4. If you are well and exercised regularly, you (live) … 100 years.
5. You would have had stomach ache if you (eat) ... too much of that cake.
6. If it (rain) ... this afternoon, I (take) ... my umbrella.
7. If you did not drive carefully, you (have) … an accident.
8. If you (study) … for a higher qualification, you (get) … a better job next year.
9. If you sent the letter by first class mail, it (get) … there the following day.
10. If the weather is fine, we (go) for a picnic.

Exercise 3.
Complete the following sentences.
1. I’ll ask him to lend me the money (if I see him).
2. You’ll be late (if you don’t take the bus).
3. Will you help me (if I need your help)?
4. I’d lend you the money (if I had money).
5. If I had her address (I would give it to you).
6. If they had gone by car, (they would have saved time).
7. If my mother won a million pounds, (she would spend it very quickly).
8. If I had more time, (I would read more books).
9. (if I feel good), I’ll be in class tomorrow.
10. He would have come to the party last Sunday (if he had been invited).

Exercise 4.
Open the brackets using the verbs in the appropriate form.
1. If I (to have) this rare book, I should gladly lend it to you.
2. The dish would have been much more tasty if she (to be) a better cook.
3. He never (to phone) you if I hadn’t reminded him to do that.
4. Your brother (to become) much stronger if he took cold baths regularly.
5. If he (to be) more courageous, he would not be afraid.
6. If the fisherman had been less patient, he (not to catch) so much fish.
7. If you (to put) the ice-cream into the refrigerator, it would not have melted.
8. If I (to know) the result now, I would phone her immediately.
9. If you had let me know yesterday, I (to bring) you my book.
10. If it (to snow), the children will play snowballs.

Exercise 5.
Form conditional sentences.
Ex.g.: The weather is not fine and we won’t go for a walk. “If the weather is fine, we will go for a walk.”
1. He is busy and does not come. If…
2. The girl did not study well last year and received bad marks. If…
3. He broke his bicycle and so he did not go to the country. If…
4.He speaks English badly: he has no practice. If…
5. I had a bad headache yesterday, that’s why I did not come to see you. If…
6. The ship was sailing near the coast, that’s why it struck a rock. If…
7. He was not in town, therefore he was not present at our meeting. If…
8. The pavement was so slippery that I fell and hurt my leg. If…
9. The sea is rough, and we cannot sail to the island. If...
10. They made a fire, and the frightened wolves ran away. If...

Exercise 6.
Open the brackets using verbs in the appropriate subjunctive form after “I wish”.
1. The unfortunate pupil wishes he (not to forget) to learn the rule.
2. I wish I (to have) a season ticket to the Philharmonic next winter.
3. I wish I (to consult) the teacher when I first felt that mathematics was too difficult for me.
4. I love sunny weather. I wish it (to be) warm and fine all the year round.
5. I wish I (not to lend) Nick my watch: he has broken it.
6. I wish you (to send) word as soon as you arrive.
7. I wish I (not to have) to do my homework every day.
8. I wish you (to go) skiing with me yesterday: I had such a good time!
9. I wish I (to know) Spanish.
10. I wish I (not to drink) so much coffee in the evening: I could not sleep half the night.

Exercise 7
Translate into English.
1. If he had not been so short-sighted, he would have recognized me yesterday in the theater.
2. She is healthy. If she had been sick, her brother would have told me about it yesterday.
3. You would know a lot if you read this magazine regularly.
4. If I had known about this earlier, I would not be sitting at home now.
5. If my parents were rich, they would have bought me a car long ago.
6. She is very talented. It would be nice if her parents bought her a piano. If she starts playing now, she will be a distinguished musician.
7. If I knew French, I would have talked to her a long time ago.
8. If I knew German, I would read Goethe in the original.
9. If I lived close, I would come to you more often.
10. If you had not interrupted us yesterday, we would have finished the work on time.

Exercise 8.
Complete the following sentences.
1. You would know English better if...
2. I should have left Moscow yesterday if ...
3. If I were you, ...
4. If I had known that it was going to rain, ...
5. I shall go for a walk, if...
6. I should lend you my textbook if ...
7. If we had bought the tickets, ...
8. If they were here, ...
9. We should be glad if...
10. If he were younger, ...

Exercise 9.
Omit the conjunction in the following conditional sentences by making appropriate changes to the sentence.
Ex.g.: If we had gone there later, we would have seen them. “Had we gone there later, we would have seen them.”
1. If I had time, I should study French.
2. If you should find them, kindly let me know.
3. If they had called at the office yesterday, they would have found me there.
4. If I had seen him yesterday, I should have told him about it.
5. If he were here I should speak to him.
6. If he were in town, he would help us.
7. If he should come, tell him to wait.
8. If I had enough money, I would travel.
9. If I were you, I should go there immediately.
10. If I were in his place, I should refuse.

Offers are not real conditions

Subordinate clauses of real conditions and time, the action of which is related to the future

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

Conditional sentences are as follows:

1. Offers of real conditions.

2. Sentences of unrealistic conditions. The use of verb forms in these sentences depends on the degree of reality and the time of action expressed by the verb.

In subordinate clauses, conditions and tenses with conjunctions

if(If),

when(When),

after(after),

before(before)

as soon as(as soon as)

unless(if not),

until(until)

The future tense is replaced by the present tense form, but is translated into Russian by the future, for example:

If you help me(subordinate prepositional conditions), I shall do this work on time(main sentence). - If you help me, I will do this work on time.

As soon as I am free, I"ll come to you.- As soon as I am free, I will come to you.

We shall not begin until you come. - We won't start until you come.

(subjunctive mood)

The subjunctive mood expresses the possibility, unreality, and conjecture of an action.

a) the action relates to the present or future:

If I knew his address I would write to him.

If I knew his address (now), I would write to him (now or in the near future).

If the weather were fine he would go to the country.

If the weather (now) was good, he would go out of town.

The verb in the subordinate clause is in the form Past Simple, mainly in form Future in the Past.

b) the action relates to the past:

If the weather had been fine yesterday he would have gone to the country.

If the weather had been good yesterday, he would have gone out of town.

If the action described by the subjunctive mood refers to the past tense, the main clause uses the future perfect form from the point of view of the past Future Perfect-in-the Past, and in the subordinate clause – past perfect Past Perfect.

If I had known his address I would have written to him.

If I had known his address (in the past), I would have written to him (in the past).

To express regret related to the future, combinations with the verb are used could; to express wishes for the future, as well as complaints, requests or irritation, is used would.

I wish I lived not far from here.(Present tense)

I wish I could live not far from here.(Future tense)

It's a shame I don't live nearby.

I wish I had lived not far from here.(Past tense)

I wish I would live not far from here.(Future tense)

I wish I lived nearby.

Examples:

I wish it were not so cold. I wish it wasn't so cold.

I wish I knew their address. I'd like to know their address.

I wish I had made a decision yesterday. I wish I had made a decision yesterday.

I wish you could send the answer as soon as possible. I would like you to send a reply as soon as possible.

We wish you would accept our offer. We would like you to accept our offer.

Translate the following sentences into Russian.

1. If I came later I would be late for the lesson. 2. If he had known the time-table he wouldn't have missed the train. 3. It would be better if you learned to drive a car. 4. I wish I had known this before. 5. I would have sent a letter to you if I had known your address. 6. If I had met you yesterday I would have told you about it. 7. If I were in your place I wouldn't buy the tickets beforehand. 8. If I had known that you needed help I would have helped you. 9. We wish you would visit us on Saturday.

Translate into Russian.

1. I wish the customers were not late as usual.

2. I wish the letter hadn't been so long.

3. I wish you wouldn't be slow.

4. I wish I could go to my work by car.

5. I wish it would stop raining.

Open the parentheses.

1. He (go) out when the weather (get) warmer. 2. I (wait) for you until you (come) back from school. 3. I "m afraid the train (start) before we (come) to the station. 4. We (go) to the country tomorrow if the weather (to be) fine. 5. We (not pass) the examination next year if we don't (work) much harder. 6. If you (not drive) more carefully you (have) an accident. 7. You (be) late if you (not take) a taxi. book before I (go) to bed. 9. You must (send) us a telegram as soon as you (arrive). 10. We (have) a picnic tomorrow if it (be) a fine day. ) out when it (stop) raining. 12. We (not to have) dinner until you (come). 13. I"m sure they (write) to us when they (know) our new address.

1. My husband would have been mad at me if I ..... his tools in their proper place.

wouldn't have put

2. If she ..... not so absent-minded, she wouldn’t have made this silly mistake.

3. I’d rather you ..... me with washing up. There are a lot of dirty dishes in the sink.

4. The fire alarm sounded and it was ordered that everyone ..... the building as soon as possible.

5. It might have been somebody he knew and wasn’t afraid of, otherwise he ..... unawares, would he?

wouldn't have been caught

wouldn't be caught

shouldn't have been caught

6. He looked at his watch and decided that it was time ..... another phone call.

7. If he ..... rich, he would buy a new car and would ask Kathy to go out with him.

8. Now, children. It is high time you ..... .

were washed and dressed

would be washed and dressed

were have been washed and dressed

9. I look funny in this attire; I wish I ..... this pantsuit.

wouldn't have bought

10. Police officer Toby Stuart wished he ..... enough information about Mandy’s past.

11. It is important that he ..... the entire truth however unpleasant it might be.

12. The situation seems totally out of control. I wish there.....a way out!

13. Why aren’t you listening to me? If only you..... how important it is!

would have realized

14. Look at your face and hands. If only your mother.....you now!

15. We have been walking for two hours. I am so tired. If only we.....a taxi!

Table of irregular verbs