EXERCISES
Exercise 1. Analyze the forms of the Subjunctive II, translate the sentences into Russian.
a) 1. Why don't you go to Comrade Petrov for advice? He would tell you what to do; he would help you make the necessary arrangements.
2. I'd like you to make friends with Nick. It would be nice for you.
3. Ann is an excellent storyteller. It would be wonderful to have her in our drama group.
b) 1. Why didn't you come round to our place yesterday? You would have enjoyed hearing Peter tell us about his trip.
2. I'm sorry he was not at the office at the time. He would have attended to the matter immediately.
3. It was very wise of you to leave a message for him. There would have been no point in waiting for him.
c) 1. "I would have toldyou everything frankly, but you were away on business then," the boy said to his uncle.
2 Come round to my place this afternoon. The weather's lovely, we'll go for a walk. You would enjoyhaving a walk in the forest, I'm sure.
3. Peter's good speaker. He would have keptto the subject, but on this occasion he was interrupted all the time and it made his speech too long as a result.
4. The boy has been very active. It would only be just to praise him.
5. "Can you wait a bit longer?" Jack asked the manager. "I know my friend would be interested in getting the job."
Exercise 2. Analyze the forms of the Subjunctive II, translate the sentences into Russian.
a) 1. It wouldn't do you any harm if you did this exercise a second time.
2. You'd (you would) never say he was gloomy if you knew him better.
3. If this book were more interesting, it would be in greater demand.
4. If my friend were in Moscow now, he could show me round the city.
b) 1. If I'd (I had) known that, you'd (you would) be hurt, I'd (would) never have told you about it.
2. If my grandfather had had a chance to study, he'd have been a great man, I'm sure.
3. I had to walk from the station. If I'd had more money on me, I could have taken a taxi.
4. If he'd come a minute later, he'd have missed the train.
c) 1. He'd feel very hurt if you failed to come to his birthday party.
2. I could have tried to cheer her up if I'd known that she was in trouble.
3. If by chance the weather were fine tomorrow, I'd wear this suit.
4. If I came across a plain blue dress while shopping, I shouldn't hesitate to buy it.
5. If you had worked harder last year, you wouldn't have made these mistakes.
6. If Petrov were more experienced, he'd do better.
Exercise 3. Put the verbs in brackets into the right form of the Subjunctive mood.
1. It is necessary that Sasha (read) 'this story.
2. I suggest that she (join) our circle.
3. We all wish that Nelly (be) with us now; but she is not.
4. The teacher insisted that we (make) short grammar reports.
5. It is important that you (stay) after the lessons.
6. I wish you (go) skiing with me yesterday. I had such a good time.
7. Come closer so that I (examine) your arm.
8. Robinson Crusoe left his father's house early in life so that he (begin) sea
life.
9. If Oleg (be) here, he would help me. But he has gone away.
10. They wouldn't have missed the train if they (leave) their house earlier.
11. She wished we (come) to see her in the evening.
12. Put the cup back on the shelf lest you (break) it.
13. My brother insists that I (play) the violin.
14. Put the penknife into the desk lest you (break) it.
15. I should read many books if my eyes (no + hurt) me.
Exercise 4. Translate into English using the models.
Model 1: In your place I shouldn't rely on him.
1. На вашем месте я старался бы вести себя лучше.
2. На следующей неделе она прочитала бы большую часть книги.
3. Через несколько лет он заинтересовался бы такой книгой.
4. На вашем месте я не был бы так откровенен с ним.
5. На вашем месте я не стал бы его ждать сейчас. Я бы оставил ему записку.
6. Вам нужно заниматься спортом. Вы не были бы таким полным.
Model 2: At that time she wouldn't have objected to it.
1. На вашем месте я наказала бы мальчика вчера.
2. Он не занимался бы этим вопросом в то время.
3. Я давно бы закрыл окно.
4. Он договорился бы с вами о встрече в прошлый раз.
5. Всего неделю тому назад мы не принимали бы мер против этого.
6. На прошлой неделе она сделала бы эту работу сразу.
7. В то время он принял бы такое назначение без колебаний.
Exercise 5. Put the verbs in brackets into the right form of the Subjunctive I.
1. "Why do you leave him alone?" the mother asked her son. "He feels rather upset after what's happened, and a few friendly words (to cheer up) him."
2. It's a pity John wasn't there. He (to convince) you in no time.
3. "I'm looking forward to getting the results of the experiment," said the scientist. "It (to be) very useful to compare them with the figures we've got now."
4. Why didn't you tell me you were cold? I (to shut) the window long ago.
5. I didn't know you needed those figures. I (to look) them up when I was in the reading-room.
6. Your son's getting very shy. It (to be) a good idea to send him to a pioneer camp for the summer. It (to do) him a lot of good.
7. I'm glad I left you before five. The traffic (уличное движение) there's usually very heavy by five. It (to hold) me up.
8. Why do you want to stay with your relatives? In your place I (to prefer) spending a holiday at the seaside.
9. "The children have already been out of sight half an hour," said the man. "I'm afraid it (to be) impossible for you to reach them now."
Exercise 6. Answer the following questions using Subjunctive I.
a) 1. Suppose the weather was fine next weekend. Where would you go? Who would you ask to join you? Would you take your children along with you? Why?
2. Suppose you were in a hurry to get somewhere. Would, you walk fast? Would you go by bus or by underground? Would you try to take a taxi?
3. Suppose you were going to the South for a holiday. Would you prefer to go by train or to fly? What luggage would you take? Would you take some English books to read in the train (plane)? Why? (Why not?)
4. Suppose your son (daughter, little sister) got a bad mark at school. Would you rely on the teachers to do something about it, or would you take steps yourself? What steps would you take? Would you speak to the child? Would you punish him (her)?
5. Suppose you had a chance to go either to the theatre or to a concert by a good pianist. Which would you choose? Why? What about your wife (husband)?
b) 1. When I was in the library the other day, the librarian showed me a detective story and a serious novel. I chose the novel. Which would you have chosen? Why?
2. Last Sunday I had a ticket for the Maly Theatre, but I didn't feel like going out, so I gave it to my sister. Would you have done the same? What would you have done in my place?
3. Suppose you had a business appointment yesterday for 11 o'clock, and at 10.30 you had discovered you couldn't keep it. What would you have done?
4. A six year-old boy wanted his mother to buy a toy that she couldn't very well afford. When he burst out crying his mother gave in. What would you have done?
Exercise 7. Translate into English paying attention to the Subjunctive I.
1. Я бы взял такси, но у меня нет с собой денег.
2. Я бы сам поднял этот вопрос на собрании тогда.
3. Почему ты не хочешь поговорить с ним? Твои слова подбодрили бы его.
4. Жаль, что вы не перевели эту статью вместе с Петром. Это было бы вам полезно.
5. Я советую вам перевести еще одну статью, это вам не повредило бы.
6. Почему вы колеблетесь? Я бы советовал вам взять эти билеты.
7. Жаль, что магазин был закрыт, я бы купила то выходное платье, у меня были с собой деньги.
8. Зачем ты накрыл на стол? Я бы сама это сделала.
9. Я хочу, чтобы вы переговорили с ним. Я думаю, что вы бы убедили его не делать этого.
10. Торопись! Мы можем опоздать на 10-часовой поезд. Это было бы очень неприятно.
11. Я бы занялся этим делом сам, но я буду завтра целый день занят на конференции.
12. Я не знал, что на этого человека нельзя положиться. Я бы не имел с ним дела.
13. Я бы рассказал ему обо всем, но я не смог ему дозвониться.
14. Жаль, что вас не было в комнате в тот момент. Вы бы посмеялись с нами над таким зрелищем.
15. На вашем месте я наказал бы его.
Exercise 8. Complete the letters using the Subjunctive I and the words and word-combinations given below.
A. Dear Peter,
I've just finished unpacking and arranging my things. Now I've made myself comfortable in my room, and can write you a few lines. All I can say is I like it here very much. .
The holiday home is close to the sea-shore, and the beach (пляж) is five minutes' walk from the house. I'd like you to join me here. You would... We should...
to enjoy one's stay, to sunbathe, to swim, to go on excursions, to show round, to have everything necessary at one's disposal, to hire, to arrange, to exchange impressions, to have a lovely time, to do a lot of good
B. Dear Boris,
I've been waiting more than an hour for you since the rehearsal began. Now I must be off, because I have an appointment at seven, so I am leaving you this message. It's a pity you failed to turn up at the rehearsal. You would have... We should have...
to enjoy the way the instructor read the play, to take part in the discussion, to be interested in, to be given one of the parts, to learn the lines (реплики) together, to go to the park, to have a lovely time
Exercise 9. Read the extract and then change the facts using the Subjunctive I as in the model.
When the porter decided that Mark Twain was Mayor of New York, he told the conductor of his discovery at once. The conductor's attitude to Mark Twain changed immediately. He ordered the porter to take Mark Twain and his companion to the big family compartment. There the porter fixed the berths for them and made them comfortable. He even promised to turn the whole railroad inside out to please the important passenger.
Образец:
Let's suppose the porter recognized Mark Twain and did not take him for the Mayor of New York. He would have... He wouldn't have...
Exercise 10. Make sentences using the Subjunctive mood.
Example. He is not attentive; he makes many mistakes. If he were attentive, he would not make many mistakes.
1. He is busy; he does not come to see us.
2. The girl did not study well last year; she received bad marks.
3. He broke his bicycle; he did not go to the country.
4. I am tired; I run around too much.
5. We speak English badly; we have no practice.
6You did not see your aunt; you did not go to her place.
Exercise 11. Complete the sentences and answer them.
1. What would you do if:
to run into...?
to mix with...?
to complain of...?
to be in trouble...?
to be deceived...?
2. How would you behave if:
to avoid...?
to find fault with...?
not to give in...?
to be responsible...?
not to be familiar...?
3. What would have happened if:
not to make proper arrangements...?
to put off...?
not to keep in a cold place...?
can't arrange...?
can't attend to...?
4. What would you have done if:
to mention...?
to be pressed badly...?
to hurt one's feelings...?
to fail the exam...?
can't keep an appointment...?
Exercise 12. Translate into English using the models.
Model 1: It would be a good thing if you attended to the matter personally.
1. Я бы позвонил ему сейчас, если бы я знал номер его телефона.
2. Я бы зашел к нему на следующей неделе, если бы у меня было свободное время.
3. Я бы извинился, если бы чувствовал себя неправым.
4. Мы бы примирились с такими результатами, если бы имели сейчас возможности их улучшить.
Model 2: I'd give in if I were wrong.
I. Я бы погостил здесь подольше, если бы не был так занят.
2. Мы бы не настаивали, если бы дело не было срочным.
3. На вашем месте я бы связался с опытными инженерами.
4. На вашем месте я бы не колеблясь принял предложение.
5. Если бы вы были более внимательны, вы не путали бы эти имена.
Model 3: The party wouldn't have been spoiled if you'd made the necessary arrangements.
1. Если бы вы оставили мне записку, я бы зашел к вам вчера.
2. Он бы сам уделил внимание этому вопросу, если бы не заболел.
3. Я бы пошел вчера в кино, если бы у меня было желание это сделать.
4. Работа была бы испорчена, если бы мы не приняли срочные меры.
5. Если бы Хайсмит играл свою роль плохо, мисс Поузи догадалась бы, что ее обманывают.
Model 4: a) I could have attended to the matter myself if I'd known that it was urgent.
b) I'd ask Peter to do it if I could rely on him.
1. Если бы он не подвел меня, я смог бы сделать работу за неделю.
2. Мы могли бы ее убедить, если бы она последовала нашим советам.
3. Я был бы вам признателен, если бы вы могли отложить нашу встречу до понедельника.
4. Вы могли бы приобрести больше опыта, если бы вы работали на заводе.
Exercise 13. Complete the following sentences using the Subjunctive mood.
1. He would have come to the party if... (not to be held up).
2. If the director turned up now ... (to attend to, personally).
3. I shouldn't dare to bother you at such a late hour if ... (urgent).
4. If you took part in the next sports competitions... (to do a lot of good).
5. I should have bought that coat without any hesitation if... (to have money on
me.)
6. If you gave in... (not to be praised).
7. I would tell you about it if... (can, to speak in private).
8. If this play had been put on at our club... (to be a success).
9. If you had kept this fruit in a cool (прохладный) place... (not to go bad).
10. He wouldn't behave like that if he ... (an honest man).
Exercise 14. Complete the sentences using the word-combinations in brackets.
1. Если бы его телефон был занят тогда ... (to leave a message).
2. Если бы у меня было плохое зрение ... (to wear).
3. Вчерашний матч отменили бы, если бы... (to change).
4. Вы бы ничего не перепутали, если бы ... (properly).
5. Я не возражал бы против этих изменении, если бы ... (to be reasonable).
6. К кому бы вы обратились, если бы... (reliable information)?
7. Я уверен, что если бы он обдумал мое предложение как следует ... (not
to turn down).
8. Если бы вы хвалили своего ребенка слишком много ... (to spoil).
Exercise 15. Change the subordinate clause omitting if.
1. If I were in Leningrad now, I too should be able to hear the famous Italian singer.
2. You wouldn't make these foolish mistakes if you were more attentive in class.
3. If that engineer had had a greater sense of responsibility, this question wouldn't have taken so long to decide.
4. This question would have been raised long ago if the matter had been dealt with properly.
5. If there had been more schools in the area, the Burnells would not have allowed their girls to mix with poor children.
Exercise 16. Connect the sentences using the Subjunctive mood.
Model: Peter didn't work hard and didn't get a good knowledge of English. He failed the exam.
If Peter had worked hard and got a good knowledge of English, he wouldn't have failed the exam.
1. She worked hard. That's why she became a first-class ballet dancer.
2. You failed me. I didn't take the necessary steps in time.
3. The weather's bad. We can't go to the country.
4. I keep a diary. I never forget my appointments.
5. I couldn't attend to the matter myself. I was engaged at a conference.
6. The boy behaved badly. We made him apologize.
7. I'll be frank with you. You can keep secrets.
8. He didn't find me at home. We couldn't exchange opinions.
9. There was no railway connection between the two villages. We took a car to get from one to the other.
10. My friend went in for sports at the expense of his health. Now he has had to give it up.
Exercise 17. Translate into English paying attention to the Subjunctive mood.
1. Я бы взял такси, если бы знал, что в нашем распоряжении было так мало времени.
2. На вашем месте я бы не настаивал на том, чтобы эти меры были приняты немедленно. Это было бы неразумно.
3. Этот ученик не провалился бы на экзаменах, если бы вовремя были приняты необходимые меры.
4. В прошлом месяце результаты были бы гораздо лучше, если бы все поняли преимущество нашего предложения.
5. Она не жаловалась бы на головные боли, если бы ежедневно гуляла перед сном.
6. На Вашем месте я как следует все бы обдумал, прежде чем принимать окончательное решение.
Exercise 18. Продолжите историю, используя сослагательное наклонение, как в образце. Используйте словосочетания в скобках.
Образец: If I were on holiday now, I'd...
First student: If I were on holiday now, I'd go to the South.
Second student: If I went to the South, I'd swim in the sea and sunbathe.
Third student: If I swam in the sea and sunbathed, I'd lose weight (вес), etc.
a) If I were leaving Moscow on a business trip, I'd... (to have to go to the railway station, to take a taxi, to get to the station in no time, to have an hour or so to spare, to go to the newspaper-stall, to buy a fresh newspaper, to read it in the train to kill time)
b) If my friend had been in Moscow last week, he'd... (to take part in our amateur performance, not to be a failure, not to spoil the party, to have a lot of fun)
c) If I were responsible for the matter, I'd... (to get in touch with, to make an appointment, to make final arrangements, not to have to deal with the matter again)