Subjunctive

Definition
& Use

The subjunctive in English is used to form sentences

that do not describe known objective facts. These
include statements about one's state of mind, such as
opinion, belief, purpose, intention, or desire

Definition
& Use

The subjunctive mood is also used for statements that

are contrary to fact, such asIf Iwerea giraffe...as
distinguished fromI wasa giraffe. Subjunctive
statements often occur independent clauses, such as
the subjunctive example in the preceding sentence. It
contrasts with theindicative mood, which is used for
statements of fact, such asHespeaks English.

Present

Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the
infinitive without the "to." The simple form of the verb
"to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in
certain forms and tenses.

Form

I go
You go
He go
She go
An so on

Examples

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or

importance. It is used after certain expressions (see
below). Examples:
I suggest that hestudy.
Is it essential that webethere?
Don recommended that youjointhe committee.

The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and

tenses. In the examples below, the Subjunctive is not
noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is
noticeable in the he-form of the verb. Examples:
Youtryto study often.you-form of "try"

Notice

It is important that youtryto study

often.Subjunctive form of "try" looks the same.
Hetriesto study often.he-form of "try"
It is important that hetryto study often.Subjunctive
form of "try" is noticeable here.

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:

Verbs
Followed
by the
Subjunctiv
e

to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to

advise (that)
ask (that)
command (that)
demand (that)
desire (that)
insist (that)
propose (that)
recommend (that)
request (that)
suggest (that)
urge (that)

Verbs
Followed
by the
Subjunctiv
e

Examples:
Dr. Smithasked thatMarksubmithis research paper
before the end of the month.
DonnarequestedFrankcometo the party.
The teacherinsists thather studentsbeon time.

The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:

Expression
s Followed
by the
Subjunctiv
e

It
It
It
It
It
It
It
It
It
It
It

is
is
is
is
is
is
is
is
is
is
is

best (that)
crucial (that)
desirable (that)
essential (that)
imperative (that)
important (that)
recommended (that)
urgent (that)
vital (that)
a good idea (that)
a bad idea (that)

Construction: not + verb. Example:

Negative
Form

The boss insisted that Samnot beat the meeting.

The
company
asked
that
employeesnot
acceptpersonal phone calls during business hours.
I suggest that younot
renegotiating the salary

takethe

job

without

Examples:

Passive
voice

Jake recommended that Susanbe hiredimmediately.

Christine demanded that Ibe allowedto take part in
the negotiations.
We suggested that yoube admittedto the
organization.

Examples:

Continuou
s Time

It is important that yoube standingthere when he

gets off the plane.
It is crucial that a carbe waitingfor the boss when
the meeting is over.
I propose that we allbe waitingin Tim's apartment
when he gets home.

Should as
Subjunctiv
e

After many of those expressions, the word "should" is

sometimes
used
to
express
the
idea
of
subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in
British English and is most common after the verbs
"suggest," "recommend" and "insist."
Examples:
The doctor recommended that sheshould seea
specialist about the problem.
Professor William suggested that
studyharder for the final exam.

Wilmashould

Past

Thepast subjunctiveexists as a distinct form only for

the verbbe, which has the formwerethroughout:

Definition
and Use

Past indicative
Iwas, you were, hewas, we were, they were
Past subjunctive
(that) Iwere, (that) you were, (that) hewere, (that) we
were, (that) they were

The main use of the past subjunctive form is in

counterfactualifclauses:

Definition
and Use

If Iwerea painter, I would choose that color.

He would let us know if hewereplanning to arrive
late.
Note that the indicative formwasmight be used in
sentences of this type, butwereis sometimes
preferred especially in more formal or literary English.

Definition
and Use

The same principles of usage apply to the compound

past subjunctive formwere to, which appears in
'second conditional' condition clauses, usually with
hypothetical future reference:
If she were to goorWere she to go(equivalent
toif she went)

The past subjunctive form may be used similarly to

express counterfactual conditions aftersuppose,as
if,as though,unless, etc.
Suppose that Iwerethere now.
She looksas though she were goingto kill him.
There is also the set expression:as it were.

Definition
and Use

The past subjunctive can also be used in

somethatclauses expressing a wish contrary to fact
or unlikely to be fulfilled.
I wish [that] hewerehere now.
If only the doorwereunlocked.
I would rather [that] shewerereleased.
Would that itweretrue!
Oh that itwereso.

Negative
Form

In the past tense, there is no difference between the

two moods as regards manner of negation: I was not;
(that) I were not.
Verbs others than be are described as lacking a past
subjunctive, or possibly as having a past subjunctive
identical in form to the past indicative: (that) I owned;
(that) I did not own.

Expressions of
Wish

Particular rules apply to the tenses and verb forms

used after the verb wish and certain other expressions
with similar meaning.

Rules

When the verb wish governs a finite clause, the past

tense (simple past or past progressive as appropriate)
is used when the desire expressed concerns a present
state, the past perfect (or past perfect progressive)
when it concerns a (usually counterfactual) past state
or event, and the simple conditional with would when
it concerns a desired present action or change of state.
For example:

Rules

I wish you were here. (past tense for desired present

state)
Do you wish you were playing in this match? (past
progressive for present ongoing action)
I wish I had been in the room then. (past perfect for
counterfactual past state)
I wish they had locked the door. (past perfect for
counterfactual past action)
I wish you would shut up! (desired present action)
Do you wish it would rain? (desired present change of
state)

The same forms are generally used independently of the

tense or form of the verb wish:
I wished you were there. (past tense for desired state at the
time of wishing)

The same rules apply after the expression if only:

If only he knew French!
If only I had looked in the bedroom!
If only they would stop talking!

Rules

In finite clauses after would rather and it's (high) time, the
past tense is used:
I'd rather you came with me.
It's time they gave up.

After would rather the present subjunctive is also sometimes

possible:
I'd rather you/he come with me.

After all of the above expressions (though not normally it's

time) the past subjunctive were may be used instead of was:
I wish I were less tired.
If only he were a trained soldier.

Rules

Note that other syntactic patterns are possible with

most of these expressions. The verb wish can be used
with a to-infinitive or as an ordinary transitive verb (I
wish to talk; I wish you good health). The expressions
would rather and it's time can also be followed by a toinfinitive.
After the verb hope the above rules do not apply;
instead the logically expected tense is used, except
that often the present tense is used with future
meaning:
I hope you get better soon.

Confusion sometimes arises in the case of if clauses

containing an ordinary past indicative was.
When if means when, the indicative is the proper mood.

Distinguis
hing from
past
indicative
afterif

If/when he was walking down the road, he used to whistle.

compared with:
If he were to walk down the road, he might whistle.

Compare also:
If he was in class yesterday, he learned it.
If he were in class today, he would be learning it.

The first if clause contains a simple past indicative,

referring to past time (it is not known whether or not the
circumstance in fact took place). The second, however,
expresses a counterfactual circumstance connected with
the present, and therefore contains (or should contain) a
past subjunctive.

Inversion

Inversion in
Subjunctive

As noted in other sections, some clauses containing

subjunctive verb forms, or other constructions that
have the function of subjunctives, may exhibitsubject
auxiliary
inversion(anauxiliaryorcopularverb
changes places with thesubjectof the clause).
The most common example of this is in condition
clauses, where inversion is accompanied by the
omission
of
the
conjunctionif.
The
principal
constructions are:

 Inversion withshould:Should you feel hungry,

(equivalent toIf you (should) feel hungry)
Inversion withwereas simple past subjunctive:Were
you here, (equivalent toIf you were here, )

Inversion in
Subjunctive

Inversion withwerein compound forms of the past

subjunctive:Were he to shoot, (equivalent toIf he
were to shoot, i.e.If he shot)
Inversion withhadin the pluperfect, referring to
usually counterfactual conditions in the past:Had he
written, (equivalent toIf he had written)
Inversion withwerein compound forms of the
pluperfect subjunctive:Were he to have lied,
(equivalent toIf he were to have lied)

Inversion is also possible in the case of the (rarer) use of the

present subjunctive in condition clauses, and in other clauses
with somewhat different meaning, where the omitted
conjunction would be something likewhether,althoughoreven
if. These are generally archaic, except for some instances
where the meaning of the clause is "no matter whether or
" (second and third examples below).

Inversion in
Subjunctive

Be he called on by God, (equivalent to "If he be (i.e.If he

is) called on by God, ")
Be they friend or foe, (equivalent to "(No matter) whether
they be friend or foe, ")
Be he alive or be he dead.
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
There are alsoimperative-type (jussive) uses such asLong live
the King!A more common way of expressing such jussives is
with inversion of the auxiliarymay:May they always be happy!

Exercises

1. It's important that she (remember)to take her

medicine twice a day. remem
ber
2. I suggest that Frank (read)the directions carefully
reabicycle. He doesn't want the
before assembling the
d he is riding down a hill
wheels to fall off while

Exercises

3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater

be
(repair)immediately. Her apartment was
freezing.
repair
ed
4. It's vital that the United States
focu(focus)on improving
its public education system. What
we do now will affect
s
our country for
generations to come.
Not
ent (enter)the temple
5. The monk insisted that the tourists
er
until they had removed their shoes.

6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand
that she immediately (apologize)for what she just said.

apologi
7. Judy asked
that we (attend)her graduation ceremony
next week. ze

Exercises

atten
d
8. Was it really necessary that
be(sit) Ithere watching you the
entire time you were rehearsing
sitti for the play? It was really
boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.
ng
9. It is important to remember that Janine
thin(think)very
differently from you. She may not agree to the changes you
ks
have made in
the organization of the company.
10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that
driv
we all (drive)together so that nobody gets lost along the
e
way.

Exercises

11. The woman insisted that the lost

bechild (take)to
store's information desk so his parents
tak could be paged.
en
12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally
redu
(reduce)her daily fat intake.
ce
13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely
be
important that the people
of the city (allow)to voice
their concerns overallow
the
new hotel being builted
on the bay.
regula
14. She told me that the government
tes (regulate)the
airline industry. I don't know if that is true.
not
swi
15. The sign at the pool recommended that you
m
(swim)after eating a large meal.

16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor)the

summing pool while the children are taking their
monit
swimming lessons.
or
17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest
pu you (put)on
sunblock immediately before you get ta sun burn.

Exercises

be
18. John insists that Sarah (invite)to the wedding;
invit
otherwise he will not attend.
ed
com
19. I think it's an interesting fact that
she (come)from
es
Estonia.
wor
k
20. It is imperative that the world (work)towards a
solution to global warming before the weather patterns
of the world are disrupted irreparably.