Грамматика английского языка Морфология. Синтаксис (стр. 64 из 71)

Conditional clauses introduced by if and other conjunctions (with the exception of unless) imply uncertainty. Therefore they often contain non-assertive forms of pronouns and pronominal adverbs, such as any, anybody, anything, anywhere.

If anything troubles you, you’d better tell me.

If anyone asks for me, tell him to wait.

Clauses beginning with unless express the only possible condition which will make the action in the main clause possible. Therefore they usually contain assertive forms like something, somebody.

Unless somebody interferes, there may be a disaster.

For the same reason unless-clauses hardly ever express unreal conditions.

The exclusive meaning of unless accounts for the fact that, even if the condition is real, the unless-clause is not always equivalent to an if-not-clause. Thus the sentence: I won’t come unless you invite me (я приду, только если вы пригласите меня) and the sentence I won’t come if you don’t invite me (= я не приду, если вы меня не приглашаете) are quite different in their meaning.

The conjunction provided opens a clause containing some desirable condition for the fullfilment of the action expressed by the predicate in the main clause.

And you can do what you please, provided you do it neatly and don’t make a row over it.

The conjunctions suppose and supposing always imply that the condition is merely hypothetical.

I mean this: Suppose some other European pauper prince was anxious to marry Princess Anna and her

fortune, wouldn’t that Prince have an interest in stopping this loan of yours to Prince Eugen?

Conditional clauses may be joined to the main clause asyndetically by means of link-inversion. Inversion is possible only if the predicate in the subordinate clause is in the subjunctive mood, that is expressed by past subjunctive (were), or by non-factual Past Perfect.

But had chance taken you out into the surrounding country and had it taken you in the right direction,

you would have found him toiling along by the hedges...

§ 170. Depending on the relation between the subordinate and the main clauses and on the use of tense and mood forms, complex sentences with conditional clauses may be subdivided into three types:

I. Complex sentences with clauses of real condition are those when the actions or events in both the clauses refer to the past or present and these actions or events are regarded as real facts. If the actions or events in these clauses refer to the future, the actions or events are regarded as possible real facts.

If I have offended you, I am very sorry.

Why did he send us matches if he knew there was no gas?

If Jules comes back, simply defy him to enter - that is all.

I won’t phone you, unless something unforeseen happens.

The conditional clause may be a statement for mere argument, no condition is meant.

If she got no money from her brother-in-law, she got what was as good as money - credit.

If Adrian had a passion, indeed, except for Diana Ferse, it was a burning desire to fix that breeding spot,

As can be seen from the above examples, the predicates in conditional clauses may be in the past or present indefinite, present perfect, present or past continuous.

Note:

In cases like the following Let her come to me as she will, when she will, not at all if she will not; But I must run out for half a minute, if you’ll let me the verb will is not auxiliary but modal, as it expresses wish, insistence, or resistance (in negative form).

II. Complex sentences with clauses of open condition. These clauses denote hypothetical situations or circumstances which may be (or may not be) realised in the present or future. Accordingly the subjunctive-mood forms are used both in the subordinate and the principal clause to denote actions or states.

In the main dause		In the subordinate clause
1.	Analytical forms with		1.	The present subjunctive (be, go, see, etc.) or the past subjunctive for all the persons in the singular and plural. Of these forms be and were can open asyndetically joined clauses.
	should + would	non-perfect infinitive
	(in Modern English the tendency is to use would for all the persons)

In case the state of the patient became worse he would be taken to a hospital.

If I were you, I would change into another dress.

You wouldn’t be talking that way unless you were hurt.

2.

Quasi-subjunctive-mood forms with may (might) + non-perfect infinitive

2.

The non-factual past indefinite and past continuous.

You might ask her this question if you were less scrupulous.

This might seem to be unreal unless I saw it with my own eyes.

3.

The imperative mood.

3.

Analytical forms with should + non-perfect infinitive (mostly with inversion).

Should he ask for references, tell him to apply to me.

Note:

The form would + infinitive in the subordinate clause may be not a mood form, but a compound predicate, expressing a polite request.

I should be much obliged if you would agree to take part in the concert (если бы вы согласились

участвовать в концерте).

III. Complex sentences with clauses of rejected condition imply non-fulfilment of the condition, as the actions or events described in the conditional clause refer to the past and the time of their realization is over. The condition is generally not even supposed to have been fulfilled, but is stated merely for the sake of argument. The following mood forms are used;

In the main clause analytical forms		In the subordinate clause non-factual past perfect
should would might (may) could	+ perfect infinitive

If I hadn’t woken you, you’d (would) have lain there for the whole fortnight.

She would have been playing her part well unless she had been stiff with fright.

I might have persuaded her to change her mind if she had not been so obstinate.

If the book had been published they could have bought a copy in the shops.

Could he not have missed the train if he had been detained by the director?*

* The forms with may (might) and could are compound verbal modal predicates in the subjunctive mood.

The non-factual past perfect form may open an asyndetically joined conditional clause (with partial inversion).

Had the colour of the dress been to my taste, I should have bought it.

Had the world been watching, it would have been startled.

§ 171. A complex sentence with a conditional clause may be built on clauses of both type II and III, thus forming a mixed type of conditional relationship. For instance:

If we hadn’t been such fools, we would all still be together. (the subordinate clause with reference to the

past - type III, the principal clause with reference to the present - type II).

If you were more attentive, you would’t have made so many mistakes (the subordinate clause with

reference to the present, as it implies somebody's ability to concentrate in general - type II, the main

clause with reference to the past - type III).

Note:

Some of the conditional constructions may be used to join clauses expressing other meanings or admitting a two-fold interpretation. Thus if may introduce concessive clauses (see § 172), clauses in which the meaning of condition is combined with temporal meaning. The conjunction in case may introduce clauses of negative purpose, as in:

I went and ate sandwiches in the woods, in case one of the servants should see me on the lawn from the

window... (чтобы кто-нибудь из слуг не увидел...)

The complex sentence with an adverbial clause of concession

§ 172. In complex sentences with concessive clauses there is a contrast between the content of the main clause and that of the subordinate one: the action or fact described in the main clause is carried out or takes place despite the action or state expressed in the subordinate clause.

This type of clause is introduced by conjunctions: although, though, if; correlative conjunctions: though...yet, whether...or; conjunctive pronouns or adverbs: whoever, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever (which may stand for almost any part of the sentence), as, or composite соnjunсtiоns: no matter how, no matter what, for all that, despite that, in spite of the fact, despite the fact, even if, even though, even when.

The abundance of means for expressing concessive relations is determined not only by the necessity to differentiate various shades of meaning, but also by the fact that different parts may form the focus of the concessive meaning:

However cynical he was – Сколь бы циничен он ни был..., Late as it was – Хотя было поздно..., как бы ни было поздно..., Try as he might – Как бы он ни старался..., хотя он и старался работать..., Whoever may come – Кто бы ни пришел...,

(The focus is the predicative.) “-“-“ (The focus is the notional part of the predicate.) (The focus is the subject.)

Compound conjunctive pronouns and adverbs (whoever, whenever, etc.) impart universal or indefinite meaning to the clause they introduce. Contrast the following sentences:

a) Whenever you come send me a note (any time when...).

b) When you come send me a note (the definite time when...).

There is some similarity between clauses of condition and concession. The difference lies in the fact that whereas conditional clauses state the dependence of one action or circumstance on another, concessive clauses imply a contrast or lack of dependence between them. Thus the following sentences with concessive clauses

Although the weather was bad, he went for a walk.

Although the weather was fine, he did not go for a walk (the second statement is surprising in the light of

the first),

may be rephrased using coordinate clauses joined by the contrastive but.

The weather was bad, but he went for a walk.

The weather was fine, but he did not go for a walk.

In complex sentences with a conditional clause the dependence has no contrast.

If the weather was fine he went for a walk. (The second statement results from the first.)

Note 1:

However, contrastive meaning is not characteristic of all types of concessive clauses. There are three types of concessive clauses, which differ in the relation they bear to the principal clause and in the way they are connected.

I. Clauses of admitted concession (придаточные уступительные со значением допущения).

Though there might be many obstacles to overcome, he faithfully believed in future.

Though all efforts fail, we shall never surrender.

Though war and danger were in store, war and danger might not befall for months to come.

Concessive clauses introduced by compound pronouns and adverbs in -ever are never adversative to the main clause in their content, as they suggest a choice from among a number of possibilities.

Whoever he may be, he seems to be an honest man at least.

Wherever you live, you can keep a cat.

Whatever your problems are, they can’t be worse than mine.

Whatever guests you invite, they are welcome.

Clauses of admitted concession may have inverted word order; inversion is possible both with the conjunctions though and as, which in this case occur in non-initial position (after the predicative), and with conjunctive words.

Josephine could always eat, however excited she was (though she was excited).

Dark as it was getting, I could still see these changes (though it was getting dark).

Miraculous though it seemed to be, there was no miracle in their survival (though it seemed to be

miraculous).

The connective however, besides being a linking element, functions also as an adverbial modifier of degree referring to the predicative (however excited she was).

Note 2:

Sometimes clauses concessive in form have a non-concessive meaning of cause or attendant circumstance.

The sergeant, fool as he was, couldn't see the point (because he was a fool, being a fool).

II. Clauses of open concession (придаточные уступительные со значением гипотетического допущения). Clauses of this type express an unreal condition, despite which the action in the principal clause is carried out. The predicate in the subordinate clause may be in the indicative or in the subjunctive mood (in the latter case the quasi-subjunctive forms with may and might are generally used).

Whatever may be the shortcomings and defects of the present treatment, it is vain to attempt to extenuate

or excuse them in a short preface.

However much advice you give him, he does exactly what he wants.

III. Clauses of disjunctive or alternative concession (придаточные уступительные со значением альтернативы). These clauses admit two possible alternatives, both of which may be unreal, or may refer to the future. As can be seen from the examples given below, the contrast between the principal and the subordinate clause or clauses is weaker, as there are two alternatives, neither of which can be considered as an acceptable condition.

“Coward!” he repeated. “Coward, am I? Then I'll be a coward, and you shall kiss me whether you will or

not!”

The complex sentence with an adverbial clause of purpose

§ 173. Clauses of purpose generally express the purpose of the action, which is stated in the main clause. The verb-predicate in the subordinate clause is in the subjunctive mood as it expresses a planned but not a real action. Adverbial clauses of purpose are introduced by conjunctions that, so that, lest, so as, so, in order that, for fear that.

I trode on an edging of turf that the crackle of the pebbly gravel might not betray me.

I tell you all this so that you may understand me perfectly.

The conjunctions lest and for fear (that) introduce clauses stating what is to be prevented, as botli the conjunctions have a negative meaning. Lest is now extremely formal and after this conjunction the analytical subjunctive with should auxiliary is generally used.

He was like a man who is afraid to look behind him lest he should see something there which ought not to