The Subjunctive The Subjunctive MoodMood

Grammar reviewGrammar review

ByBy Roberto Roberto

General informationGeneral informationThe Subjunctive shows either a possible action or

unreality, improbability, something contrary to the fact.

The Subjunctive has two forms:1. Synthetic Subjunctivea) Present Tenseb) Past Tenseb)1. Past Subjunctiveb)2. Past Perfect Subjunctive2. Analytic Subjunctive – shall/ should/ would/ may/

might/ could+ Present/ Perfect Infinitive (much more frequently used than the Synthetic Subjunctive)

The Present SubjunctiveThe Present SubjunctiveForm of the Synthetic Subjunctive, it is identical to the Short

Infinitive. It occurs in formal, informal and American English. It is used:

1. To express wishes or set expectations (Formulaic Subjunctive): Long live the Queen!Suffice it to say that he left!Damn you!If need be we’ll call him back.

2. In subordinate that- clauses when the main clause expresses a desire, a demand, a requirement, an obligation, a necessity (Mandative Subjunctive):

• In direct object clauses, after verbs such as to suggest, to order, to demand, to urge, to recommend:He urged that he sit down and listen carefully.

• In Subject clauses after such impersonal constructions as: it is necessary/ advisable/ possible/ impossible a.s.o.:It is necessary that your friend arrive there first.

• In appositive attributive clausesThey made the suggestion that our cousin come and explain everything.

The Past SubjunctiveThe Past SubjunctiveForm of the Synthetic Subjunctive, The Past Subjunctive is identical

to the Past Tense of the verb. For the verb To be, the form Were is used especially in written English. It is used:

• In Conditional Clauses, to express a Present Conditional. This form denotes unreality, not time:The children will like this film if they saw it.if I were you, I would try to talk to her.

• After wish, it’s (high) time, as if/though, would rather/sooner (with different subjects), suppose (that)I wish I were at the seaside.

It’s (high) time + For+ object+ Lon Infinitive= the correct time to act.It’s (high) time for you to understand this problem.

It’s (high) time+ Past Subjunctive= it’s already a little late to act.It’s (high) time you understood this problem.

If the subject of would rather/ sooner is also the subject of the action which follows, the would rather/ sooner construction is followed by Short Infinitive.My sister would rather/ sooner stay at home today than go to the theatre.

The Past Perfect SubjunctiveThe Past Perfect SubjunctiveForm of the Synthetical Subjunctive, it has the

same form as the Past Perfect Tense. It is used:

• In Conditional clauses to express a Past Conditional:I would have bought that book if I had found it.

• After wish (to express a regretted action in the past), as if/though and even if/though:I wish you hadn’t said that.Even if/ though I had known the truth, I wouldn’t have told you the truth.

Shall+ InfinitiveShall+ InfinitiveForm of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is

used:• In main clauses:Shall I help you with your homework?

(=Do you want me to help you?)• In subordinate clauses (less used in

spoken English):They have decided that you shall go

home.(= you must go)

Should + InfinitiveShould + InfinitiveForm of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is used:• In main clauses:Why should they come in that early? (why is it necessary for them to come?)• In subordinate clauses:a) Subject Clauses following impersonal constructions like: it is/was important/

necessary/ natural, surprising/ advisable:It’s necessary that you should be present.

b) Conditional clauses (to underline the hypothetical nature of the action)If she should come, what would you tell her?

c) Direct object clauses, after such verbs as to demand, to insist, to command, to propose, to request, to suggest a.s.o.They suggested that you should tell them the truth.

d) Subordinate clauses of purpose, introduced by lest, for feat (that), in case: We left in a hurry, lest she should see us there.

e) Appositive attributive clauses:His desire that no one should enter that room surprised us.

f) Concessive clauses introduced by though, although, whatever:Whatever she should say, don’t contradict her.

May/ Might + InfinitiveMay/ Might + InfinitiveForm of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is used:• In main clauses to express a wish:May all your dreams come true!Oh, that they might win this match!• In subordinate clausesa) In subject clauses introduced by it is/ was possible/ probable/ likely:It is possible that she may come today.It is probable that they might have known you.b) In subordinate clauses of purpose introduced by that, in order that, so that:He took the seat in the front row so that/ in order that he might hear the

actors well.c) Concessive clauses introduced by though, although, however, whatever, no

matter:However painful it might be, you must know the truth.No matter how expensive the car might be, I still want to buy it.

Would + InfinitiveWould + InfinitiveForm of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is

used:a)In Direct object clauses after wish ,

to express a possible action:They wish we would pay them a visit.b) In Subordinate clauses of purposeShe learnt all the new words so that

she would be able to translate the text.

Could + InfinitiveCould + InfinitiveForm of the Analytic Subjunctive, this

construction is used to express purpose as an alternative to may/ might.

The Could + Infinitive has, in this case, a higher degree of certainty.

She studied a lot so that she could pass the exam.

NoteNoteNotice that the subjunctive is not generally used after verbs such as hope and expect, or after verbs that use a different syntax, such as want (it is not usual to say “I want that he wash up”; the typical syntax is I want him to wash up”).

BibliographyBibliography• Paidos, Constantin, English

Grammar. Theory and Practice, Bucuresti, Editura Polirom, 2004.