THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD IN ENGLISH (FULL EXPLANATION)

The English subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form that expresses something desired or imagined.

We use the subjunctive 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
• anticipates will happen
• imagines happening

Base Subjunctive

Form of base subjunctive

The form of the base subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs and all persons, the form is the base of the verb, for example: be, have, do, go, sing, work.

The base subjunctive does not use any other forms (goes, sings, works).

This table shows the base subjunctive in all persons, using the verbs be, work and sing as examples:

	base-subjunctive
	be	work	sing
I	be	work	sing
you	be	work	sing
he, she, it	be	work	sing
we	be	work	sing
you	be	work	sing
they	be	work	sing

Note that the subjunctive does not change at all according to person (I, you, he etc).

Use of base subjunctive

In certain that clauses

The base subjunctive is typically used in that clauses after two structures:

1. suggest-verb (or noun) + that

• advise, ask, command, demand, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose, recommend, request, suggest
• command, demand, order, proposal, recommendation, request, suggestion

2. advisable/anxious-adjective + that

• advisable, best, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary, unthinkable, urgent, vital
• adamant, anxious, determined, eager, keen

Look at these sentences which include examples of the above:

main clause suggest-verb		that clause with subjunctive
He	suggests	that	you		be	present at the meeting.
The board	recommend	that	he		join	the company.
He	requested	that	the car park	not	be	locked at night.

main clause suggest-noun		that clause with subjunctive
They made a	suggestion	that	we	be	early.
He made a	proposal	that	the company	buy	more land.
The president has issued an	order	that	the secretary	resign	next month.

main clause advisable-adjective		that clause with subjunctive
It is	advisable	that	she		rest	for a week.
It was	essential	that	the army		advance	rapidly.
After the landing, it will be	vital	that	every soldier	not	use	a radio.

main clause anxious-adjective		that clause with subjunctive
Tara is	anxious	that	you		return	soon.
They are	keen	that	he	not	be	hurt.
We were	determined	that	it		remain	secret.

Notice above↑:

• the position of not when creating negation
• that the main clause can be in any tense

Look at some more examples, which include that clauses in negative and continuous form:

• The judges order that he stay the execution.
• We have made a request that we not be disturbed.
• It is important that a car be waiting when we arrive.
• The manager was eager that his visitor see the new building.
• The board of directors recommended that he not be dismissed.
• Have you seen my suggestion that work hours be reduced?

The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in American English than in British English, where should structures are often used:

• It was essential that we should vote the following day.
• He requested that the car park should not be locked at night.

be after if

We sometimes use subjunctive be after if/whether, though this is rather formal, especially in British English:

If that	be	(not)	the case,	I intend to report the matter.
Whether he	be		prepared or not,

If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved. William Shakespeare

Fixed expressions

Note the following fixed expressions with the subjunctive:

• Bless you!
• God bless America!
• God save the Queen.
• Long live the President!
• Heaven forbid!
• Heaven help us!

were-Subjunctive

Form of were-subjunctive

	were-subjunctive
	be
I	were
you	were
he, she, it	were
we	were
you	were
they	were

Note that the subjunctive does not change according to person (I, you, he etc).

Use of were-subjunctive

In the following examples, you can see that we sometimes use the were-subjunctive (instead of was) after:

• if
• as if
• wish
• suppose

Note that in these cases were is always correct, but was is possible in informal language:

Formal with were	Informal with was
I would go if I were younger.	I would go if I was younger.
If he were not so mean, he would buy one.	If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one.
I'd tell her if I were you.	We do not normally say "if I was you" even in colloquial language.
It's not as if I were ugly.	It's not as if I was ugly.
She acts as if she were the Queen.	She acts as if she was the Queen.
I wish I weren't so slow!	I wish I wasn't so slow!
I wish the computer were working.	I wish the computer was working.
Suppose she were here. What would you say?	Suppose she was here. What would you say?

If I Were a Rich Man Fiddler on the Roof
If I were a boy Beyoncé
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby? Tim Hardin

Strange as it may seem, although the words hope and wish seem to be similar, we do not use the subjunctive with hope. Correct sentences with hope would be, for example:

• I hope that this computer works.
• I hope that this computer is working.

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