The Condition Referring to the Future

The Condition Referring to the Future

1. If the condition refers to the future, the Suppositional Mood (the mood auxiliary

«should» for all persons + the Infinitive)  is used in the subordinate clause, in the principal clause either the Indicative, the Imperative or the Conditional) Mood is used.

I want to know it.        e.g. If you should see Ann,      let me know.

                                               could you ask her to call me?

The Suppositional Mood in the subordinate clause makes the possibility of an event seem unlikely(маловероятно). In the example it implies(подразумеват) that I do not expect you to see Ann, though it is slightly possible.

In sentences of this kind the conjunction «if» is often dropped and the inverted word-order is used.

e.g.    Should you see Ann, let me know.

Such sentences are often translated by means of «если вдруг», «если случайно», «если так случится, что…», etc.

e.g.    If I should meet her tomorrow, I shall speak to her.

Случись так, что я встречу ее завтра, обещаю с ней поговорить.

If he should come, tell him to ring me up.

Если вдруг он придет, попросите  его позвонить мне.

Should it rain, you’d better stay there longer.

Should any of you come to my place, I‘ll be delighted.

2. If the condition expresses improbability or it makes situation more hypothetical in the if-clause Present Subjunctive II of the verb «to be» + to- Infinitive is used. In sentences of this kind the inverted word-order is also very common.

e.g.    What would happen if the president were to enter the room?

Что бы случилось, если бы вдруг в  комнату вошел президент?

He felt that if he were to live a thousand years he would never forget it.

Он чувствовал, что если бы ему  было суждено прожить тысячу лет, этого он не забыл бы никогда.