Unit 23 Grammar Notes

Pages 400-401

1.

Conditions in conditional sentences are sometimes implied rather than stated

directly in an if clause.

1.

Conditions may be implied by using but for, if not, if so, otherwise, with, without, etc.Your brother may be lonely. If so, he should join a singles’ group = If he is lonely, he should join a singles’ group.

1.

In a sentence with an implied condition, there is no change in the result clause.Mary needs to be part of the decision. Otherwise, she’ll never be happy =If Mary isn’t part of the decision, she’ll never be happy.

1.

As with other conditional sentences, the condition may precede or follow the result clause.With a little extra communication, you can solve the problem.You can solve the problem with a little extra communication.

2.

Unreal conditions with had (past perfect), should and were are sometimes expressed by deleting if and inverting the subject and the verb.If I had known he was lazy, I wouldn’t have roomed with him.Had I known he was lazy, I wouldn’t have roomed with him.

2.

If there is an inverted condition, there is no change in the result clause.If I were to accept the job, I would insist on benefits.Were I to accept the job, I would insist on benefits.

2.

As with other conditional sentences, the inverted condition clause can precede or follow the result clause.If I were to move, I’d have to get a new roommate = Were I to move, I’d have to get a new roommate.I’d have to get a new roommate if I were to move = I’d have to get a new roommate were I to move.

2.

Note: Inverted conditional sentences with should imply that an action or event is unlikely to happen. The meaning of should in this type of sentence is much different from its usual meaning.Should something go wrong, we need a backup plan. ( = It is unlikely that something will go wrong, but we need to be prepared.)

2.

Be Careful! Negative inversion is formed by adding not after the inverted verb and subject. Don’t contract not and the verb.Had I not received the phone call, I wouldn’t have been able to help.**Hadn’t I received the phone call, I wouldn’t have been able to help.

Let’s stop and review the subjunctive:

Present subjunctive of most verbs = base form

Past subjunctive of most verbs looks like the simple past

I goHe goShe goIt goWe goYou go They go

I wentHe wentShe wentIt wentWe wentYou went They went

Let’s stop and review the subjunctive:

Present subjunctive of the verb to be = base form

Past subjunctive of the verb to be = were

I beHe beShe beIt beWe beYou beThey be

I wereHe wereShe wereIt wereWe wereYou wereThey were

3.

The subjunctive is somewhat uncommon in English. However, one common example is the use of past subjunctive were in unreal conditions.If I were you, I’d visit my parents more often.We could go on a picnic if it weren’t raining.

3.

Be careful! This use of were occurs only present unreal conditions. It is not used for past situations (even though it looks like the past tense).If I were there, I would help her.** If I were there, I would have helped her.Correct: If I had been there, I would have helped her.

4.

The present subjective, or base form of the verb, is used in noun clauses following certain

verbs:We recommend (that) he see a lawyer.

Mai

n C

laus

e Noun C

lause

4.

Be careful! The main verb in a noun clause can be past, present, or future. However, the subjunctive verb in the following noun clause

is the base form.We recommended (that) he sell his house.

** We recommended (that) he sold his house.

4.

Form the negative of a subjunctive verb by placing not before the base form.

My aunt and uncle insisted (that) we not come to visit them today.

4.

To form a passive subjunctive, use be + the past participle.

The doctor recommends (that) Uncle John be hospitalized.

4.

Note: In noun clauses with subjunctive constructions, we can usually omit the word

that.

5.

The subjunctive with the base form of the verb is used in noun clauses following verbs of advice, necessity and urgency, such as

demand, insist, propose, recommend and suggest.

I propose (that) we ask Mom and Dad about their wishes.

My parents insisted (that) I come to visit them often.

5.

Be careful! We do not use infinitives after these verbs.

He suggested (that) we talk.**He suggested (that) we to talk.

5.

Note that insist (on), propose, recommend, and suggest can also be followed with a

gerund phrase. The meaning of this structure is similar to the meaning of the sentence with

a subjunctive in the noun clause.We insist on getting another bid for the job.We propose getting another bid for the job.We suggest getting another bid for the job.

5.

Note that verbs ask, order, require, urge, etc. may also occur in the pattern verb + object + infinitive.

When they are used in subjunctive constructions, the word that is usually not omitted.

I asked that my brothers and sisters be present.

I asked my brothers and sisters to be present.

*Your book does not mention that these two sentences do not mean exactly the same thing.

6.

The subjunctive is also used after adjectives of advice, necessity, and urgency, such as advisable, crucial, desirable, essential, important, mandatory,

necessary and urgent. Subjunctive verbs after adjectives of urgency, necessity and advice occur in the pattern It + be + adjective + that clause. We do not usually omit the word that in this type of clause.

It is essential that elderly people be treated with dignity.

It is important that she understand her options.

It was necessary that my brother see a lawyer.

6.

Note: The pattern shown in the previous slide can be replaced with It + be + adjective + for + noun or object

pronoun + infinitive, which is more informal.

It is important for her to understand her options = It is important that she understand her options.

It was necessary for my brother to see a lawyer = It was necessary that my brother see a lawyer.

Reference note

For a list of verbs and phrases followed by the subjunctive, see

Appendix 24 on page A-10.