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Subjunctive: Structure of The Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a special verb form used in English to talk about uncertain or imaginary events. It has a simple structure, with most verbs taking the bare infinitive form. The past tense of "be" is "were" rather than "was". The subjunctive is commonly used after expressions involving wanting, anticipating, or imagining something, as well as after verbs like insist, recommend, request. It is used to talk about present or past uncertain events alike. While more common in American English, the subjunctive or "should + infinitive" can be replaced by simple past ("was") in informal speech.

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551 views4 pages

Subjunctive: Structure of The Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a special verb form used in English to talk about uncertain or imaginary events. It has a simple structure, with most verbs taking the bare infinitive form. The past tense of "be" is "were" rather than "was". The subjunctive is commonly used after expressions involving wanting, anticipating, or imagining something, as well as after verbs like insist, recommend, request. It is used to talk about present or past uncertain events alike. While more common in American English, the subjunctive or "should + infinitive" can be replaced by simple past ("was") in informal speech.

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Alin vl
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Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form in English.


Structure of the Subjunctive
The structure of the subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs
except the past tense of be, the subjunctive is the same as the bare
infinitive (infinitive without "to")
be (past) be (present) all other verbs (past & present)
! were
you were
he, she, it were
we were
you were
they were
! be
you be
he, she, it be
we be
you be
they be
! work
you work
he, she, it work
we work
you work
they work
The subjunctive "oes not change accor"ing to person (!, you, he etc).
Use of the Subjunctive
#e use subjunctives mainly when tal$ing about events that are not
certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when tal$ing
about events that somebo"y
wants to happen
anticipates will happen
imagines happening
%oo$ at these examples
The &resi"ent re'uests that you be present at the meeting.
!t is vital that you be present at the meeting.
!f you were at the meeting, the &resi"ent woul" be happy.
The subjunctive is typically use" after two structures
the verbs: as$, comman", "eman", insist, propose, recommen",
re'uest, suggest ( that
the expressions: it is "esirable, essential, important, necessary,
vital ( that
)ere are some examples with the subjunctive
The manager insists that the car par$ be loc$e" at night.
The boar" of "irectors recommen"e" that he join the company.
!t is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
!t was necessary that every stu"ent submit his essay by the
wee$en".
*otice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the same. !t
"oes not matter whether the sentence is past or present. %oo$ at
these examples
Present: The &resi"ent re'uests that they stop the occupation.
Past: The &resi"ent re'ueste" that they stop the occupation.
Present: !t is essential that she be present.
Past: !t was essential that she be present.
The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in +merican
English than in English, where should + infinitive is often use"
The manager insists that the car par$ should be loc$e" at night.
!t was essential that we should vote as soon as possible.
#e usually use the subjunctive were instea" of "was" after if (an"
other wor"s with similar meaning). %oo$ at these sentences
!f ! were you, ! woul" as$ her.
,uppose she were here. #hat woul" you say-
h! do we sa! "# were"$ "he were"%
#e sometimes hear things li$e "if # were you, ! woul" go" or "if he
were here, he woul" tell you". *ormally, the past tense of the verb "to
be" is ! was, he was. .ut the if I were you structure "oes not use the
past simple tense of the verb "to be". !t uses the past subjunctive of
the verb "to be". !n the following examples, you can see that we often
use the subjunctive form were instea" of "was" after
if
as if
wish
suppose
&ormal
(The were form is correct at
all times.)
#nformal
(The was form is possible in informal,
familiar conversation.)
!f # were younger, ! woul"
go.
!f # was younger, ! woul" go.
!f he weren't so mean, he
woul" buy one for me.
!f he wasn't so mean, he woul" buy
one for me.
! wish # weren't so slow/ ! wish # wasn't so slow/
! wish it were longer. ! wish it was longer.
!t0s not as if # were ugly. !t0s not as if # was ugly.
,he acts as if she
were 1ueen.
,he acts as if she was 1ueen.
!f # were you, ! shoul" tell
her.
(ote: #e "o not normally say "if !
was you", even in familiar
conversation.
,ome fixe" expressions use the subjunctive. )ere are some examples
)on* live the +in*,
-od bless .merica,
/eaven forbid,
Be that as it ma!, he still wants to see her.
Come what ma!, ! will never forget you.
#e are all citi2ens of the worl", as it were.

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