1.These forms were not always analytical in OE but were widely used in:
· independent clauses – to express wish, command, hypothetical condition, concession, purpose (e.g. Sīēn hira ēāζan āþistrode. – Be their eyes darkened!);
· dependent clauses – temporal clauses (related to future) (e.g. Bring me þæt ic ēte. – Bring me that, I would eat), etc.;
· impersonal sentences (e.g. Methinks – I think (ìíå äóìàåòñÿ), me lycige – I like (ìíå íðàâèòñÿ)) – went out of use in NE.
2.In MEand NEanalytical forms of the Subjunctive Mood appeared.
Formation:
biden (bid)/leten (let)/neden (need)/sholde (should)/wolde (would) + Infinitive
These were the modal phrases that were used to express problematic or imaginary actions. The forms with sholde/wolde outnumbered all other forms, soon they weakened their modal meaning and became auxiliaries: should – 1st person, would – 2nd, 3rd person.
3. Meaning of the Subjunctive forms:
· in the Past – present or future imaginary or unreal actions (e.g. He thought he would cope with the task);
· in the Present – future probable or problematic actions (e.g. She thinks he would still come).
4. Peculiarities:
· should/would + Infinitive à simultaneous actions (e.g. If I was young I would be the happiest person in the world);
· should/would + Perfect Infinitive à past or preceding actions (e.g. If I had known all this I would have left that house immediately).