Subjunctive

By : Erna Munir

What is Subjunctive ?

There are varying definitions of the subjunctive in English. Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines subjunctive as “in grammar, designating or of that mood of a verb used to express condition, hypothesis, contingency, possibility, etc., rather than to state an actual fact: distinguished from imperative, indicative.”

Subjunctive is used in formal English when we wish to express the importance of something. It usually follows verbs like wish, as if/though, If only, would rather, recommend, suggest, and other words that express these ideas.

Use of the Subjunctive

We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

* wants to happen

* hopes will happen

ask, demand, determine, move, order, pray, prefer, recommend, regret, request, require, suggest,...

(followed by THAT )

WISH, AS IF / AS THOUGH, IF ONLY, WOULD RATHER

IN PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE and  PAST SUBJUNCTIVE

These are verbs typically followed by clauses that take the subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

•I wish He help me to do the examination

•She talks as if She be here tomorrow

•God Bless you

•I request that Jill pick up the ball

Past Subjunctive

•I wish , I were there = I am here •You act as though I had been crazy = I wasn't crazy•If Only She had gone to Bali = She didn't go to Bali•I would rather I had been a doctor = I was not a doctor

IN SPECIAL FUNCTION

THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE TENSE

Express formal commands or requests

God save our souls!

May your wish come true soon!

May you be happy forever!

express a personal wish about something the speakers can’t decide on by using, these verbs : suggest, recommend, order, beg, demand, urge, force, advise, insist, repuire, request,…

It’s advisable that you practice English regularly.

I suggest that our director reform his management mechanism the sooner the better.

I strongly advise that you be really prudent in solving this problem.

Indicative VS Subjunctive

The simple indicative and subjunctive tenses of the verb To BeIndicative Subjunctive I am I be you are you be he is he be she is she be it is it be we are we be they are they be

Indicative VS SubjunctiveIndicative Subjunctive

I was I were

you were you were

he was he were

she was she were

it was it were

we were we were

they were they were

Indicative VS Subjunctive

The indicative and subjunctive tenses of the verb “ work”The indicative and subjunctive tenses of the verb “ work”

IndicativeIndicative SubjunctiveSubjunctive

I workI work I workI work

you workyou work you workyou work

he workshe works he workhe work

she worksshe works she workshe work

it worksit works it work it work

we workwe work we workwe work

Subjunctive

The first subject uses the present indicative verb (wish, recommendation, suggestion, prohibition, and so on) the second subject uses the subjunctive verb / be

Thank You