THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

Subjunctives.
Anyone who's studied a foreign language will be glad that English has almost
entirely lost the subjunctives it once had. And because English has so few
inflections, it's often hard to spot many subjunctives. Grammarians have a hard
time defining subjunctive; don't worry if you don't follow.
Unlike the indicative mood, which indicates that something is true, the
subjunctive expresses a wish, a command, or a condition contrary to fact. Archaic
English is full of subjunctives, as in "Would that it were" and "Thou shalt not."
The English subjunctive still shows up in a few places, of which the condition
contrary to fact is most common:

Conditions contrary to fact: "If I were a rich man." (I teach English;

Lord knows I ain't rich.) We use were instead of the expected is, am, or
are: "If this were any heavier [but it's not a condition contrary to fact], I
couldn't lift it"; "If she were to say that [but she's not], I'd leave."
Suppositions: "If I were to tell you, I'd have to kill you"; "Be that as it
may."
Wishes: "I wish I had an Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator"; "I
wish she were six inches taller."
Demands and suggestions: "I insisted that he leave"; "I suggested he
leave."
Necessity or importance: "It's essential that he arrive on time."

Some also classify shall as a subjunctive (see Shall versus Will). [Revised 12 Jan.
2005.

Shall versus Will.

An old distinction, more common in British than in American English, still comes
up from time to time. To wit: will is usually the simple future indicative: "This
will happen," "You will be surprised." Shall is related to the subjunctive, and
means "Let it be so," which you might see in legal or business writing: "The
employee shall produce all required documentation," "A committee shall be
appointed," and so forth. (They're not just predicting that the employee's going to
do it or the committee is going to form; they're declaring that they must, or at least
should, happen.) But this rule works only for the second person (you) and the
third person (he, she, it, they). The first person I and we reverses the rule, so

"I shall do it" means I'm going to get around to it, while "I will do it" shows a
mustering of resolve (let it be so).
A favorite example to clarify the two: "I shall drown, no one will save me!" is a
cry of despair, simply predicting imminent death both are simple futures. "I
will drown, no one shall save me!" is a suicide vow, a declaration that no one had
better try to stop me.
I know, it's confusing, but it's nothing to worry about. Just don't throw shall
around unless you know what you're doing. [Revised 3 November 2000.]

Synthetical Subjunctive:
ThePresent Subunctive
The Past Subjunctive
The Past Perfect Subjunctive
Analytical Subjunctive:
1. Should + Infinitive
2. May/ Might + Infinitive
3. Would + Infinitive
4. Could + Infinitive
1. The Present Synthetical Subjunctive
coincides in form with the short infinitive
e.g. It is necessary that he meet us here.
Este necesar ca el sa ne intalneasca aici.
it expresses a possible action
It is not currently used in contemporary English
USES:
1. Independent sentences to express:
a) wishes:
e.g. Long live the queen!- Traiasca regina!
b) blesses (binecuvantari):
e.g. Bless you!- Fii binecuvantat!
c) curses (blesteme):

e.g. Damn you!- Sa te ia naiba!

d) certain fixed phrases:
e.g. So be it!- Asa sa fie!
Suffice is it to say that.- Este de ajuns sa spun.
Formulator Subjunctive.
2. Subordonate sentences introduced by that when the main clause expresses
reccommandation, decision, request, hope, intention for the future, surprise.
in subject clauses:
e.g. It is necessary that the manager inform the stuff about it.
Este necesar ca directorul sa informeze personalul despre asta.
in attributive clauses:
e.g. Their intention that the trip be made in April lead to nothing.
in object clauses:
e.g. She suggested that the students study for their classes from time to time.
clauses of concession:
e.g. Though they leave now you wont.
!!! this type of Subjunctive is mainly used in American English.
It is more frequently found in official style.
!!! British counterparts:
2. a) It is necessary for him to make up his mind.- Formal
2. c) They suggested that she should watch her tongue.
2. d) Though they may leave you wont.
2) Past Synthetical Subjunctive
it coincides in form with Past Tense, Indicative (Simple & Continuous).
e.g. I wish life was/ were easier. (But it isnt)
Mi-as dori ca viata sa fie mai usoara.
!!! The verb to be - were (standard English) All persons
- was (informal style) He, She, It, I
it expresses hypothetical, imaginary situations.
e.g. I truly wish I were younger. (But Im not)
e.g. He wishes he were driving his father to car now. (But he doesnt)

USES:
Independent sentences:
e.g. Oh, that I knew the answer to that question. (But dont)
Macar de-as stii raspunsul la intrebarea aceea.
e.g. If only I could cook. (But I dont)
Ce n-as da/ Macar de-as stii sa gatesc.
Subject clauses:
e.g. Its time I left (Im late). E timpul sa plec.
e.g. Its about time I bought a house. E momentul/ vremea sa cumpar
o casa.
e.g. Its high time we spent more time together. E timpul sa petrecem
mai mult
timp impreuna.
Object clauses:
e.g. I wish there were 72 hours in a day. (But there arent)
e.g. I would rather you surprised me more often.
As prefer sa ma iei prin surprindere mai des.
e.g. Suppose she didnt love you, what would you do?
Ce-ar fi daca nu te-ar iubi?/ Ce-ai face daca nu te-ar iubi?
!!! Would rather preference
Would sooner
Comparative sentences:
e.g. You are behaving, as if you were my mam. (But you arent)
e.g She is looking at me, as though she didnt know me.
5. Conditional sentence type 2:
e.g. Unless you promised to keep it a secret, I wouldnt tell it to you.
Daca nu mi-ai promite ca tii secretul, nu ti l-as spune.
e.g. I would change my job if I could.
Mi-as schimba slujba daca as putea.
Clauses of concesion:
e.g. Even if they lied to me, I will still not care.
Chiar daca m-ar minti, tot nu mi-ar pasa.

e.g. Even though I were ill, I wouldnt miss school.

Chiar daca as fi bolnav , tot nu as lipsi de la scoala.
3. Past Perfect Subjunctive
it coincides in form with Past Perfect Tense, Indicative
e.g. I wish I had been there, too. (But I wont)
Mi-as dori sa fi fost si eu acolo.
it refers to an impossible past situation.
USES:
-the same situations as the ones in The Past Subjunctive (except the subject
clauses), only that instead of Past Tense we use Past Perfect.
Independent sentences:
e.g. Oh, that I had known that before. (But I didnt)
Macar de-as fi stiut inainte.
e.g. If only I had woken up earlier.
Macar de m-as fi trezit mai devreme.
Object clauses:
e.g. I wished I hadnt forgotten my book at home.
e.g. Suppose you had spent one week in the mountains with her.
Ce-ar fi daca tu ai fi petrecut a saptamana cu ea la munte?
e.g. What would you rather I had done?
Ce-ai fi preferat sa fac?
Comparative sentences:
e.g. He talked as if he had seen her.
Vorbea de parca ar fi vazut-o.
Conditional sentences type 3:
e.g. If it hadnt rained, we would have walked in the park.
Clause of concesion
e.g. Even if you had offered to help, I would still have not accepted.
Chiar daca te-ai fi oferit sa ma ajuti , tot n-as fi acceptat.

Further notes:
We use WOULD after WISH:
to refer to a future situation:
e.g. I wish you would come to the party, too.
Mi-as dori sa vii si tu la petrecere.
to refer to an irritating habit.
e.g. I wish you wouldnt speak so much during classes.
!!! I would rather didnt lie to me.
As prefera sa nu ma minti.
I & you Two subjects vb form didnt lie Past Subjunctive
NO- Id rather stay at home(joke)
As prefera sa stau acasa. (IONE subject)
!!! Whises about simple future are expressed with HOPE
e.g. I hope- it doesnt rain tomorrow
- it wont rain tomorrow
!!! Other ways of expressing PREFERRANCE:
e.g. I would prefer a good joke to a good meal.
e.g. I would prefer you to make up your mind once and for all.
As prefera/ Prefer sa te hotarasti odata pentru totdeauna.
e.g. I would prefer it if you didint stare like that.
As prefera sa nu te mai holbezi asa.
FURTHER NOTES
Real & Unreal:
e.g. I feel as if a train had hit me. (But it didnt)
Ma simt de parca m-ar fi lovit trenul.
e.g. You look as if- you love her. (And you do)
-you loved her. (But you dont)
e.g. You look like you have seen a ghost. Colloqual speech- INFORMAL
You look as if you had seen a ghost. Standard- FORMAL
!!! OBS. Verbs/ nouns/ adjectives that express order, command, suggestion,
advice, proposal, urge (indemn), request (cerere) are fallowed by:
e.g. They suggested (that) he should leave at once.

- (that) he leave
- his leaving at once
- (that) he left (familiar speech)
!!! The verbs of perception: to see, to hear, to make are fallowed by short
infinitive in the active voice and long infinitive in the passive voice.
To hear:
e.g. I hear you sing every day.
e.g. You are heard to sing every day.