THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

The basic meaning of the subjunctive is non-assertion, contrasting with the Indicative, which
asserts a state of things. Unlike the tenses of the Indicative which convey information about real
events, the Subjunctive evaluates hypothetical actions. The Indicative expresses factual meaning,
while the Subjunctive makes non-factual not truth!committed" or even counter-factual
hypothetical" statements.
#ccording to an underlying structural criterion, many grammars distinguish between a synthetic
and an analytical subjunctive.
A. The Synthetic Subjunctive
Tenses of the Subjunctive
$%ld& Subjunctive
'
( identical in form with the short infinitive
$)resent& Subjunctive ( identical in form with the )ast Tense of the Indicative *ood +II,!
ed"
$)erfect& Subjunctive ( identical in form with the )ast )erfect of the Indicative *ood -#.
/ +III,!ed"
1. The Old Subjunctive
In main clauses it survives only0
in a number of formulaic expressions0
So be it. / Far be it from me to / Come what may./ Suffice it to say that..
in wishes, prayers, imprecations, protests0
Expenses be hanged. / God sae the !ueen" / God bless you" / #amn you"/ $eaen forbid"
in concessive clauses without conjunction and in set!phrases0
%e that as it may& we stic' to our plan.
Come what may& ()ll defend you. / Cost what it may& we)ll buy that car.
The %ld Subjunctive is 1uite fre1uent in #merican 2nglish, in legal documents, official accounts,
and rhetorical political style. In 3ritish 2nglish the $should& version would be used or even the
Indicative, in everyday speech.
2. The Present Subjunctive
'
Some grammars refer to the $%ld& Subjunctive as $)resent& or $be& Subjunctive, while the $)resent& Subjunctive is
often named the $)ast& or $were& Subjunctive.
It indicates present unreality action contrary to present facts", a hypothesis about a present event.
It has present or future time reference. The future reference is sometimes expressed using 4%U5.
/ + e.g.0 ( wish you wouldn)t disturb me while ()m tal'ing on the phone next time."
)resent Subjunctive is re1uired by the following phrases0
its (high / about time0 (t)s time the guests arried.
wish0 ( wish ( lied in *ew +or'.
if only0 (f only you offered us a tic'et for the tonight show"
if, unless in conditional clauses, type II"0 (f he learnt the new words by heart& he would be able to
use them in sentences of his own during the test.
even if, even though in concessive clauses"0 Een though his ideas were better& ( would do it my
way.
as if, as though in comparative clauses"0 ,om behaes as if he needed help.
in case, suppose, imagine0 -Suppose you didn)t pass the exams") -.et)s better not")
!d rather (would rather when the Subject #gent" of the hypothetical action is different from the
Subject 2xperiencer" who expresses the hypothesis0 Pauls mother would rather he had helped
her more.
3. The Perfect Subjunctive expresses a hypothesis about a past event. If the action
expressed by the )resent Subjunctive is still likely to happen, the one expressed by the )erfect
Subjunctive is impossible as the event proper has already occurred.
The )erfect Subjunctive is used after the same phrases as the )resent Subjunctive.
e.g. If only they hadn)t drien so fast" /0nfortunately they did and they are in hospital now.1
2ur friends wish they had bought that car. /0nfortunately they didn)t hae so much money.1
+our father was coughing as if he had been smo'ing for years. /3nd yet he has neer smo'ed"1
Exercises
". Insert the right form of the verb; specify its mood and tense:
'. They were looking down on her as if she be" their colleague.
6. They didn&t hire 7ohn, although he graduate" long before me.
8. *ark would never help his wife even though he have" time.
9. :ou answer" the phone, you would have found out the news.
;. 4e&d love to join you on your trip tomorrow< If only it rain"<
=. >randma wishes she love" more by her husband. Unfortunately he died young.
?. The soldier wished he take part" into another war. The second was terrifying<
@. #ll graduates should bring a photo unless they bring" one already at the beginning of the
semester.
A. The baby sleep" so tight now unless he drink" a bottle of milk after bath.
'B. -e&d rather his neighbours see" him kissing that girl.
#. Fill in the blanks with one suitable word or phrase:
'. -e&d rather CCCCCC in the act by the police.
6. I wish my parents CCCCCCC by our headmaster about my poor results this semester.
8. If only you CCCCCCC me good luck before leaving. I would have got that job for sure<
9. It&s CCCCCCC your mind about that<
;. CCCCCC to me, I would have found out about it sooner or later.
=. *ark behaves as if he CCCCCCC on his wife.
?. :our cousin was eating as if he CCCCCC a bite since the war.
@. The priest would rather the burglar CCCCCCCC to him about stealing that car.
A. Imagine we CCCCCCCC with it< 4e would have been lying in the son in 3ahamas instead of
lying behind bars all day long for the rest of our lives.
'B. The landlord wished he CCCCCCC them up. They were such a nuisance<
Remember conditionl cluses!
$ain clause %&'clause
Type (
Imperative,)resent Tense
,urn off the ,4
)resent Tense
if lightning stri'es outside.
Type "
Duture Tense
+ou)ll remember her
)resent Tense
if you see her.
Type #
)resent Eonditional
( would ta'e a pill
)resent Subjunctive
if ( 'new it helps.
Type )
)erfect Eonditional
,he cyclist would hae won the race
)erfect Subjunctive
if he had trained more.
$i*ed She wouldn)t be crying li'e that if nothing had happened.
). Match column A with column and specify the type of conditional clause:
A + %&'clause (type
'. *ary would be dancing here
now
6. 7ohn would have solved the
whole exercise
8. *other would be cooking
now
9. 3ut for the thick fog
;. 4ere you to lose weight
=. -ad you spread the seeds in
autumn
?. Steve wouldn&t be able to
interpret those ads
@. Should you meet an alien
A. 3ut for the soup
'B. .o not climb the stairs
a. now you would have been
feeling the fragrance.
b. the plane wouldn&t have been
diverted.
c. if she had felt better.
d. unless he had attended that
course.
e. her skin would get dry.
f. if the earth1uake has begun<
g. if the blackboard had been
clean.
h. unless the boss called her in
his office.
i. you would feel more
comfortable.
j. do not pretend to be smarter
than him<
'.
6.
8.
9.
;.
=.
?.
@.
A.
'B.
". The #nl$ticl Subjunctive %ith S&O'() is used after0
it is/was , adjective/noun - it is/was necessary, advisable, essential, better, vital,
important, right, fair, natural. it is a pity / a shame etc.0
(t is essential that the child should brush his teeth each day.
phrases expressing subjective feelings such as it is/was strange, odd, surprising, ama/ing,
annoying, ridiculous, absurd etc.0
(t is outrageous that your friend should hae been charged more than necessary.
verbs expressing directive speech acts0 suggest, propose, insist, recommend, command,
demand and their corresponding nouns0 intention, idea, wish, desire, suggestion, proposal,
demand, re0uest, arrangement, agreement etc.0
,hey suggested the flight should be delayed.
,he policeman)s demand was that you should par' your car somewhere else.
in conditional clauses type %, instead of the present tense when the action in unli1ely to
occur0
Should 3ndy remember me& tell him ( hae always cared about him.
in (negative purpose clauses0
,he pilot dierted the plane lest it should land during the storm.
The #nl$ticl Subjunctive %ith *#+,*-.&T is used as follows0
in wishes0 5ay you hae a long and happy life"
#fter expressions of fear0
She started to roc' the baby gently in her arms& afraid that the noise might wa'e him up.
In adverbial clauses of purpose, having slight modal values0
,he music was turned down so that the godfather might propose a toast.
In adverbial clauses of concession, replacing the old form of the present subjunctive0
$oweer hard he may try& he)ll neer resemble %ill Clinton. %ld Subjunctive0 ,ry as he
will& he)ll neer resemble %ill Clinton."
Use any modal verb within the #nalytical Subjunctive whenever you want to express certain
deontic ability, obligation" or epistemic possibility, certainty" values.
Exercises
". Fill in the blanks with one suitable word or phrase:
'. The committee&s decision was that our company CCCCCCC over by an #merican Investment
Dund.
6. It&s unbelievable that this carpet CCCCCC by a blind lady.
8. The 3artons locked all doors and windows CCCCCCCC in.
9. The captain ordered that all flags CCCCCCCCC upon the president&s arrival.
;. She re1uested another audience for fear she CCCCCC. Dortunately the manager had never
thought of giving up on her.
=. It&s impossible that Susan CCCCCCC for .avid. She isn&t 1ualified as an accountant.
?. That&s a wonderful love story< It&s a pity they CCCCCCC up in the end.
@. It&s annoying that your neighbours CCCCCCC loud music for so long<
A. They were driving fast CCCCCCCC miss the plane.
'B. The headmistress suggested that she CCCCCCC up to by all staff.
!" Identify the phrases that re#uire the use of the verb in the $ub%unctive Mood" &hen choose the
most appropriate form of the verb and specify the type and tense of the $ub%unctive"
'. 4e were afraid grandpa CCCCCCCC fall ill.
a. should c. shall
b. will d. might
6. She crossed the street lest her aunt CCCCCCCCCC see her.
a. should c. wouldn&t
b. didn&t d. may
8. It&s time the thieves CCCCC a mistake.
a. have made c. should make
b. made d. make
9. 4e put the milk on the shelf, for fear the cat CCCC at it.
a. got c. had got
b. might get d. would get
;. *ary began to wish she CCCCCCC .
a. not to come c. shouldn&t come
b. didn&t came d. hadn&t come
=. The chairman suggested that the 1uestion CCCCCCC in the agenda.
a. were included c. be included
b. should include d. had included
?. -er friends recommended that she CCCCC harder.
a. worked c. works
b. work d. has worked
@. 2ven if you CCCCCC him well, you CCCCCCCC him, as he has changed so much.
a. should know, don&t recogniFe c. knew, wouldn&t recogniFe
b. know, won&t have recogniFed d. have known, will be recogniFing
A. If only we CCCCCCC as we were told< This CCCCCCC never.
a. had done, would have happened
b. were doing, will happen
c. do, will have happened
d. did, wouldn&t happen
'B. )Gcat cG nu ai citit cartea.
a. It&s a pity you haven&t read the book.
b. :ou wish you read the book.
c. It&s a pity that you shouldn&t read the book.
d. I&d rather you read the book.
'" Provide the most appropriate form of the verb:
'. 3ut for *r 7ohnson&s lectures we hire".
6. The audience thought it unlikely that anyone else preach" better than Dather Terrence.
8. I insist that I tell" all good news and bad news.
9. The teacher urged all students read" the novel beforehand lest she speak" all by herself at the
next seminar.
;. 4e find" the vase broken unless the cat jump" in through the open window.
=. If only he pay" more attention to his manager< -e make" redundant<
?. Eongratulations on your birthday< I wish all your dreams come" true<
@. Ho matter how high the mountain be", Ereig would climb it to the top.
A. I think she looks trendy whatever she wear" right now.
'B. 4hat come", let&s go for it<
(" )hoose the most appropriate form of the verb and specify the type and tense of the
$ub%unctive"
'. )Gcat cG nu mi!am cerut scuFe.
a. It&s a pity I hadn&t apologiFed.
b. I wish I had apologiFed.
c. I wish I apologiFed.
d. It&s a pity that I should have apologiFed.
6. 2ste necesar sG se facG o investigaIie.
a. #n investigation needs making.
b. It&s necessary for an investigation to make.
c. #n investigation is necessary to make.
d. It is necessary that an investigation should be made.
8. *Gcar de n!ai fi fost aJa de ocupat Filele acestea.
a. I wish you weren&t so busy these days.
b. If only you hadn&t been so busy these days.
c. :ou wish you shouldn&t be so busy these days.
d. If only you haven&t been so busy these days.
9. She is so stubborn. If only she CCCCCCCCC a mistake<
a. wouldn&t make c. shouldn&t make
b. didn&t make d. doesn&t make
;. #J fi preferat sG nu Ii se fi spus veJtile.
a. :ou&d better not be told the news.
b. I&d rather you weren&t told the news.
c. I&d better you haven&t told the news.
d. I&d rather you hadn&t been told the news.
=. -e is smiling as if he CCCCCC what I CCCCCCCC .
a. didn&t believe, am saying c. shouldn&t believe, say
b. hadn&t believed, was saying d. doesn&t believe, said
?. The defence insisted that some more witnesses CCCC .
a. were heard c. should be heared
b. to be heared d. on hearing
@. Eopiii fugirG care Kncotro ca sG nu!i prindG vecinul.
a. The children dashed away so that the neighbour shouldn&t catch them.
b. The children ran away lest the neighbour caught them.
c. The children ran away so as not to catch the neighbour.
d. The children dashed away for not to be caught by the neighbour.
A. #nn would rather her sons CCCCCC a job than CCCCCCC to college.
a. took, went c. take, go
b. should take, go d. will take, will go
'B. -owever cold it CCCC be, he CCCCCCCC a hat.
a. may, can wear c. may, had worn
b. might, has worn d. might, would wear
;. *+plain the difference in meaning and structure, if any, between the
following pairs of sentences:
'.a. -ad we known that you wouldn&t come, we wouldn&t have waited for you for so long.
'.b. -ardly had we known that you wouldn&t come when we stopped waiting for you.
6.a. Should *ary call you, tell her we&ve just left.
6.b. If *ary calls you, tell her we&ve just left.
8.a. Try as he might, he won&t get his driving license back.
8.b. Ho matter how hard he might try, he won&t get his driving license back.
9.a. 4ere you to pass all your exams, we would throw a party<
9.b. If you passed all your exams, we would throw a party<
;.a. It&s odd that he get drunk at his daughter&s wedding.
;.b. It&s odd that he should get drunk at his daughter&s wedding.
=.a. 4e can&t take part in this competition lest we should make a fool of ourselves.
=.b. 4e can&t take part in this competition so that we shouldn&t make a fool of ourselves.
?.a. I insist that my employees should obey the company&s rules.
?.b. I insist on my employees& obeying the company&s rules.
@.a. I wish you told us the truth.
@.b. I wish you would tell us the truth.
A.a. I&d rather muse than speak aloud.
A.b. I&d rather he mused than spoke aloud.
'B.a. If only our luggage had reached the destination<
'B. b. Unless our luggage had reached the destination, we would still be claiming it now.
-" &rue or false.
'. The Subjunctive is evaluative, while the Indicative is informative.
6. %nly the #nalytical Subjunctive is used in concessive clauses.
8. E%U5. and 4%U5. used in the Subjunctive preserve their modal values.
9. The #nalytical Subjunctive can take the form S-%U5. / perfect infinitive.
;. The Subjunctive never expresses an action in progress.
=. The #nalytical Subjunctive forms can sometimes be replaced with >erundial patterns.
?. ID %H5: and UH52SS re1uire either the )resent Subjunctive or the )erfect Subjunctive.
@. #ll types of conditional clauses can be marked by inversion.
A. The Subjunctive is used in temporal, conditional, concessive and purpose clauses.
'B. The %ld Subjunctive is identical in form with the bare infinitive.