(3) Choose between the two expressions and give a reason for your choice:

1. He was (were) much surprised.

2. They started before I was (were) ready.

3. If I was (were) ready now, I would go along.

4. He speaks like he was (as if he were) interested.

(4) Explain the difference in the meaning of the two sentences in each group and tell the mood used in each : 1. (a) Heaven help them! (b) Heaven helps them. 2. (a) Every boy try hard. (b) Every boy tries hard.

199. Time Denoted by the Tenses of the Subjunctive. In the indicative mood the name of a tense usually suggests the time denoted by the tense; thus, You were fortunate if this was true. (Past tense and past time.) In the subjunctive mood the case is often different. The present tense may denote either present or future time, the past tense may denote present time, the past perfect tense may denote past time; thus,

(Present time.)

You are fortunate if this be true.
You will be fortunate if this prove true.
You would be fortunate if this were true.
You would have been fortunate if this
time.)

(Future time.)

(Present time.) had been true. (Past

The past subjunctive in a subordinate clause may denote the same time as that denoted by the verb in the principal clause: as, You act as if you were glad (present time); You acted as if you were glad (past time).

EXERCISE 143

(1) Point out the verbs in the indicative and in the subjunctive mood and tell the time denoted by each :

1. God save the men!

2. It was easy to do this.

3. It were easy now to do this.
4. If this was done, it was well.

5. If this is done, it will be well.

6. If this were now done, it would be well.

7. If this had been done, it would have been well.

8. It now looks as if our efforts were all in vain.

9. It then looked as if our efforts were all in vain.

10. Our men are on their guard lest any trouble develop.

11. If the truth had been known, no harm would have resulted. 12. If this plan were put into operation, it would threaten our national independence and life.

(2) Supply was or were in each blank and give a reason for your choice :

1. If he

uneasy, he would show it.

uneasy, he did not show it.

2. If he

3. It seemed to us that the matter
4. The matter looked to us as if it

adjusted. adjusted.

200. Uses of the Imperative Mood. The imperative mood may express a command, request, entreaty, or mere consent; thus,

Run for your lives. (Command.)

Give me your hand, please. (Request.)

Let us try to work in harmony.

(Entreaty.)

All right; come (you may come) tomorrow. (Consent.)

Sometimes the imperative expresses condition; as,

Do (if you do) this and I will reward you.

The imperative mood is limited to the present tense and to the second person.

EXERCISE 144

(1) Write five sentences, using each of these verbs in the imperative mood, then tell what each verb expresses:

sing

play

tell

draw

study

What are some of people leaving the After an oral discus

(2) Do you enjoy country life? its pleasures? Are too many country and moving to the city? sion of these questions, write a composition on “Some of the Advantages of Living in the Country.' How many moods have you used? Are your mood forms correct?

Mood-Ideas Expressed by Auxiliaries

201. Modal Auxiliaries. While the number of mood-forms in Modern English is small, our language is richly supplied with auxiliary verbs for the expression of mood-ideas. These modal auxiliaries have largely supplanted the subjunctive mood, and to a certain extent have taken the place of the imperative mood.

The following auxiliaries may express mood-ideas :

202. Shall and Will. — Originally shall meant to owe, be under obligation; will meant to wish, resolve, determine.

If we use shall in the first person and will in the second or third, the original meaning practically fades out, leaving these verbs as mere tense auxiliaries expressing simple futurity (183).