IMPERATIVES, S UBJUNCTIVES , CONDITIONS

THE IMPERATIVE
= a command, an order, a suggestion, advice or invitation (2nd person)
• Form: the verb base (endings for number or tense)
• + markers of politeness (e.g. please)
• no auxiliaries except do (negative + emphatic commands):
Don’t lie to me, Mary! (Negative command)
Do take a seat! (Emphatic or persuasive command)
• implied subject you; it sometimes occurs in commands:
You just listen to me!
• 1st & 3rd person commands (let + me/us; smb + let)
Let me have a look at your drawing.
Let’s take a cab.
Somebody let me out! (Informal)
Let somebody else attempt this task! (Formal)

THE SUBJUNCTIVE
• little used in Modern English
• 3 categories of subjunctive (Leech and Svartvik):
1. mandative/analytical subjunctive → in that-clauses
propose, demand, require, insist, suggest
be necessary/obligatory/essential etc.
+ short infinitive (formal style, esp. AmE)
+ should + infinitive (less formal; more common)

They suggest that he sign the contract. (Formal)

They suggest that he should sign the contract.
He insisted that Mary leave/should leave at once.
It is essential that he (should) arrive on time.
for him to arrive on time.

2. formulaic subjunctive → certain expressions

Come what may…; Suffice it to say…; Be that as it may…; Try as you may/might
Bless you!; God save the Queen!; Long live the President!; Heaven help us all!
3. synthetical subjunctive
→ wish, as if, would rather, if only, it’s (high) time, lest
 (He avoided mentioning her name lest her wife be upset /I asked him to ring first lest
the manager were away)

CONDITIONS
• introduced by if, assuming (that), as/so long as, even if, if only, on (the) condition (that),
provided (that), providing (that), unless (used in Type 1), suppose (that), supposing (that),
otherwise (= if not), but for + gerund/noun, and, or (else), in case of/in the event of +
present (for the present) or past (for the past), since etc.
• 3 main types of conditional sentences:
Type 1. will + if + present → real, possible or very probable situations in the
present or future
She will visit us if she has time.
Type 2. would + if + past tense → imaginary situations contrary to the facts in the
present; advice
She would visit us if she had time.
Type 3. would have + if + past perfect → an impossible condition, regrets or criticism
She would have visited us if she had had time.

• Zero conditional: present + present/past + past (the facts are/were always true)
If kids are naughty they get scolded.
If kids were naughty they got scolded.

• Mixed conditionals
• If + will and would:
1. a polite request
2. insistence on doing or not doing something
1. If you will take a seat, I will let the doctor know you’re here
2. If you will eat (insist on eating) so many sweets, you'll put
on weight.
• If + Should → sth possible but not very likely to happen.
If you should meet gim, tell him to call me.
• Omission of if
• Had better + short infinitive (→ advice or warning )
• if only/wish + past tense /past perfect
would → a polite imperative or annoyance
 ‼ After I and we + could (not would)

• Would rather → preference

- same subject + present/perfect infinitive
I'd rather read a book than watch a movie.
I'd rather have lived in Austria.

- different subjects: + past tense (refers to present or future)

I'd rather sher joined us tonight.
+ past perfect (refers to past)
I'd rather she had told me the truth.

• Prefer
+ long infinitive + (rather) than + short infinitive
I prefer to read a book rather than watch a film.
+ noun + to + noun (I prefer fruit to sweets.)
+ -ing + to + -ing (I prefer playing tennis to playing chess)