Derek Offord - Using Russian - A Guide to Contemporary Usage

´

Eсли бырaбо´ты нaчaли´сьво´врeмя, тогдa´ рaсхо´ды бы´ли бы

горa´здо ни´жe.

If work had begun on time [but it did not], then the cost would have been much lower .

Кaк бывы отнeсли´ськ тому´, e´сливaш чeтырёхлe´тний рeбёнок

вдруг пропe´л бытaку´ю пe´сeнку?

How would you react if your four-year-old child suddenly sang a song like that ?

Note 1

Conditional sentences of this type may relate to past, present or future time, and only from the context will it be clear which meaning is intended.

2

In the clause containing the condition the particle быgenerally follows e´сли

(and it may be contracted to б). In the clause describing the consequence бы

generally follows the verb in the past tense. However, быmay also follow some other word in the clause to which it is intended to give emphasis.

3

The clause containing the condition may also be rendered with the use of a second-person singular imperative, e.g. живи´онa´ в други´х усло´виях, из нeё

вы´шeл бы прeкрa´сный худо´жник, Had she lived in other conditions, she would have made a fine artist .

11.10

The subjunctive mood

As well as forming the conditional mood, the past tense of the verb +

the particle быrenders the subjunctive in Russian. There are no sets of distinctive verbal endings or different subjunctive tenses of the sort found in, for example, French, Italian and Spanish. As in these Western European languages, though, the subjunctive in Russian is used in

concessive clauses and in subordinate clauses after verbs of wishing. It may also be used, but tends in R1 and R2 to be avoided, in

subordinate clauses after verbs of ordering, permitting, fearing and doubting and after various negative antecedents.

r Concessive clauses: these are clauses introduced by whoever, whatever, whichever, however, wherever, whenever , etc., and they may be translated into Russian by the appropriate pronoun ( кто, что, кaко´й, кaк, гдe,416

11.10

The subjunctive mood

кудa´, когдa´, etc.) in the form required by the context and followed by the particle бы+ ни+ verb in past tense, e.g.

Кeм быпото´м они´ ни стa´ли, a чу´вство блaгодa´рности вa´м от них

никогдa´ нe уйдёт.

Whoever they may beсоme later on, the sense of gratitude to you will never leave them .

Я считa´ю, что про´шлоe нeпрeмe´нно нa´до бeрe´чь, кaкоé быплохоé оно´ ни´ было.

I think the past should definitely be preserved however bad it might have been .

Bсeм грa´ждaнaм, кaко´й бынaционa´льности они´ ни´ былии гдe бы

они´ ни проживa´ли, гaрaнти´ровaны рa´вныe прaвa´ и

возмо´жности.

All citizens, of whatever nationality they may be and wherever they may reside, are guaranteed equal rights and opportunities .

Note 1

As with conditional sentences in which быis used, so in such concessive clauses too a verb accompanied by this particle may refer to past, present or future actions.

2

Concessive clauses may also be translated by the use of the appropriate pronoun + ни+ verb in the appropriate tense, e.g. что ни говори´тe, a прия´тно поро´й встрe´тить для сeбя´ нeожи´дaнноe, Whatever you say/Say what you will, it is nice sometimes to encounter the unexpected .

3

Whatever, whenever, wherever , etc. do not invariably introduce concessive clauses; they may merely impart emphasis, as in the question Wherever have you been ?, which might be translated thus: Гдe жeты был(a´)? (See also 5.4, жe (d).) r Exhortation: the particle быmay also be used, with a verb in the past tense, to express an exhortation or gentle command or the desirability of some action, e.g.

Bы бы помогли´eму´.

You should help him/should have helped him .

r Wishing: after verbs of wishing the subordinate clause should be

introduced by что´бы(a coalescence of что+ бы) and the verb in the subordinate clause should be in the past tense, e.g.

Я хочу´, что´бынa´ши дe´ти знa´линaш родно´й язы´к.

I want our children to know our native language .

r Commanding, permitting: after verbs of this type the subjunctive may also be used, e.g.

Я скaзa´л(a), что´быофициa´нткa принeслa´стaкa´н воды´.

I told the waitress to bring a glass of water .

Note:

subjunctive constructions in such sentences are only alternatives to the use of an object and verb in the infinitive, and indeed the latter, simpler, construction prevails in R1/R2. Thus the above English sentence might also have been rendered thus: Я скaзa´л(a) официa´нткe принeсти´стaкa´н воды´.

r Fearing: verbs of fearing may be followed by (a) in R2/3, a negative subjunctive (e.g. Я бою´сь, что´бы[or кaк бы] он нe пришёл), or (b) in R1/2 by a verb in the future tense in a clause introduced by что (e.g. Я

417

11

Syntax

бою´сь, чтоон придёт). Both sentences mean I am afraid he may come .

When it is feared that something may not happen, then only the

second construction is possible. Thus the sentence I was afraid he would not come may only be rendered by Я боя´лся, чтоон нe придёт.

r Negative antecedent: быand a verb in the past tense may also be used in subordinate clauses after negated verbs such as ду´мaть, to think , and знaть, to know , e.g.

Я нe ду´мaю, что´быкто´-нибудь могтaк вeсти´ сeбя´.

I don’t think anyone could behave like that .

11.11

Use of gerunds and participles

11.11.1

Use of gerunds

r The imperfective gerund describes action which is taking place at the same time as the action described by the main verb in the sentence

(though the main verb itself may be in the past, present or future

tense). It may translate English expressions such as while doing, by doing, although they do , as well as simply doing , e.g.

Bойскa´ нa´чaли осторо´жноe продвижe´ниe к цe´нтру, мe´длeнно