UNIT Subjunctive Mood

Part A Principal: I am recommending that Mrs.

Robinson stay home until after
Present Jenny: her baby is born.
When is her baby due?
Subjunctive Principal: Around September 15th.
I requested that she return to
school in January.
Mark: Who is going to teach us until then?
Principal: Ms. Shaw. I insist you be as respectful to her as you are to
Mrs. Robinson!

Grammar Explanation
The subjunctive mood is used to talk about actions or states that are in doubt or not factual.
The present subjunctive* is formed with the base form of a verb. It occurs only in noun
clauses beginning with that. These clauses follow verbs, nouns, or adjectives that
express suggestions, demands, or requests.**
Words of suggestion: propose, The doctor suggested I sleep more.
recommend, recommendation, suggest, It is important that he sleep more.
suggestion, advise, advisable, critical, The doctor’s suggestion is that they sleep more.
desirable, important, vital, urge It is advisable that she sleep more.
Words of demand: demand, imperative, My parents have demanded that I be quiet at night.
Your parents require that you be quiet at night.
insist, necessary, order, require, required
It will be imperative that she be quiet at night.
Words of request: ask, beg, prefer, I ask that you have more patience with the other students.
The teacher requested that Nick have his project finished
request, wish
earlier.
To make a subjunctive clause negative, I recommend that you not exercise until you feel better.
add not before the subjunctive verb.

*The term “present” refers to the form of the subjunctive verb (base form) rather than the
time in which the action happens. The verb in the main clause may be in any tense.
* In subjunctive sentences, the word that is sometimes omitted after certain verbs (propose,
suggest, insist). It is not usually omitted in other contexts.

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Practice 1 Part A

Exercise 1 Match the sentence parts.

1. My tutor prefers that a. we be quiet during the test.

2. It’s advisable that you b. keep the bandage on for

a few days.

3. Tom suggested we go c. she apply to Harvard.

f shing

4. Her math teacher d. travel plan before he

advised that goes away.

5. Mom insisted that Bob e. we meet twice a week.

make a

6. Our French teacher f. if the weather is

demanded that nice tomorrow.

Exercise 2 Circle the correct answers.

1. Victor suggested that I (gets / got / get) more exercise.

2. They demanded that we (do not be / are not being / not be) so loud.

3. I recommend that you (look / looking / to look) for a job that isn’t so stressful.

4. Nina asked that we (not disturb / did not disturb / are not disturb) her.

5. The weather reporter said it was advisable that we (taking / take / to

take) an umbrella today.

6. The owner of the restaurant requested that he (smokes / smoke / to

smoke) outside.

7. The police officer insisted that I (not show / didn’t show / to not show)
him my license, but I did!

8. It is critical that you (not eat / do not eat / did not eat) anything the
night before your surgery.

Part A 7
 Practice 2

Exercise 1 Underline the mistakes in the sentences. Write the

corrections using the present subjunctive.
1. Her doctor ordered her remain in bed. that she
2. The commander ordered that the thief is arrested. ____________

3. The police asked them avoid driving during the storm. ____________

4. It is necessary we’ll pack enough food for the hiking trip. ____________

5. The waiter’s recommendation was she order the pancakes. ____________

6. The bank manager demanded that he pays the debt on time. ____________

Exercise 2 Unscramble the sentences.

1. suggested / I / they / scenic / route. / the / take

I suggested they take the scenic route.

2. students / the / be / recommend / I / that / polite.

_____________________________________________________________

3. a / new / start / He / proposed / that / she / hobby.

_____________________________________________________________

4. citizens / taxes. / The / insists / that all / pay / government

_____________________________________________________________

5. imperative / students / It / to do / properly. / that / research / learn / is

_____________________________________________________________

6. demanded / The father / a traditional / have / wedding. / daughter / his / that

_____________________________________________________________

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Grammar in Use
Part A

Exercise 1 Fill in the blanks with the words from the box.

go let do choose

Steve: Hey Jo, what’s up? Are you planning our surfing holiday?

Jo: 1
No, my parents are insisting that I not _____________.
Steve: Why? Is it because it’s too dangerous?
Jo: 2
Yeah, they asked that we _____________ a safer activity.
3
My sister suggested that we _____________
something in the city.
Steve: How about we go sightseeing in
Beijing instead?
Jo: That’s an idea. I’ll propose that
4
they _____________ me do that.
I’ll call you if they agree.

Exercise 2 Answer the questions about the above reading using the
present subjunctive.
1. Did Jo’s parents agree to their planned surfing trip?
_____________________________________________________________

2. What did Jo’s parents request?

_____________________________________________________________

3. What did Jo’s sister suggest?

_____________________________________________________________

4. What will Jo do next?

_____________________________________________________________

Part A 9
 Part B

Past Dear friends,

Subjunctive I’m having a great time here in Canada.

So far, I have gone skiing, ice skating,
and fishing. If it’s sunny tomorrow,
we might even go camping! There’s
so much to do. If I were back home, I
wouldn’t be doing all these fun things. I wish you were all here with me.
If only you weren’t so busy, you could join me. Well, hope to see you
soon.
Your friend,
Claire

Grammar Explanation
The past subjunctive* is formed with the past form of a verb that describes a state, condition,
or habit. It is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situations. With the verb be, the form
were (not was) is usually used for all subjects.
Use Examples

After the verb wish to express an unfulfilled I wish Sally were here to help us.
desire He wishes he could run faster.
After if (only) in second conditional If people drove smaller cars, we would all breathe
cleaner air.
sentences (followed by a clause with would,
If I were taller, I could reach the top shelf.
could, or might)
You might like her if you knew her better.
After the verbs suppose and imagine, Suppose you met the president. What would you say?
expressing unreal conditions (usually
Imagine you were rich. What could you do?
followed by a sentence with would or could)
After as though or as if to make a She acts as though she were very rich, but she’s not.
comparison to an imaginary condition He drives as if he were in a Formula 1 race.

*The term “past” refers to the form of the subjunctive verb (past simple) rather than the time in
which the action happens. All of the examples above are about the present.

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Practice 1 Part B

Exercise 1 Match the sentence parts.

1. Imagine we could a. were nicer today.

2. I wish the weather b. if their parents approved.

3. I could go to the party c. I would forgive him.

4. If he said he was sorry, d. though she were a native

speaker.
5. She speaks Japanese as e. if I were not sick.

6. They would get married f. travel to Mars.

Exercise 2 Unscramble the sentences.

1. knew / wish / my sister’s / I / secret. / I

I wish I knew my sister’s secret.

2. happier / she / be / rich? / if / Would / she / were

_____________________________________________________________

3. little boy / as if / talks / a man. / The / were / he

_____________________________________________________________

4. you / Imagine / the oldest / children. / of six / were

_____________________________________________________________

5. speak / could / he / English / fluently. / He / wishes

____________________________________________________________

6. she / raise / the answer, / she knew / her hand. / would / If

_____________________________________________________________

Part B 11
 Practice 2
Exercise 1 Rewrite the sentences in the second conditional (using if
and the past subjunctive).
1. It can’t fly because it doesn’t have wings.
If it had wings, it could fly.

2. She can’t get a job because she is so lazy.

_____________________________________________________________

3. He doesn’t keep his promises, so I don’t trust him.

_____________________________________________________________

4. I am able to see well because I’m wearing my glasses.

_____________________________________________________________

5. I can’t write to Jane because I don’t know her address.

____________________________________________________________

6. She can’t buy a new car because she doesn’t have enough money.
_____________________________________________________________

Exercise 2 Look at the pictures. Complete the sentences.

1 2 3 4

1. Julie runs as if ___________________________________________________.

2. Lisa cries as though ______________________________________________.

3. Tony plays soccer as if ____________________________________________.

4. Kevin speaks as though __________________________________________.

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Grammar in Use
Part B

Exercise 1 Fill in the blanks with the words from the box.

imagine had would as if wish were

1
I wish you were here. We’re having an exciting time in Hong Kong. The
food is great, and the buildings are so tall. The weather is so hot, though!
2
__________ that the weather back home were hot and humid every
night. That’s what it’s like here! Yesterday, we were in a taxi.
3
The driver was driving __________ we were in a race. Suddenly, we
crashed into another taxi. The two drivers were yelling at each other, and
4
it looked as though they __________ going to fight. Eventually, we
got back to our hotel OK. The trip has been perfect
5
so far, except I wish our room __________ air
6
conditioning. If it did, it __________ be
a lot more comfortable.
Your friend,
Andy

Exercise 2 Answer the questions with your own information.

1. If you could visit any city, where would you go?

_____________________________________________________________

2. What would you do if you visited Hong Kong?

_____________________________________________________________

3. If your taxi were hit by another taxi, how would you feel?
_____________________________________________________________

4. Suppose you were in a taxi and the driver were driving too fast. What
would you do?
_____________________________________________________________

Part B 13
 Part C Review

Exercise 1 Circle the correct answers.

1. Jerry requested that Kim (helps / help) him with his essay.

2. I suggest that he (finishes / finish) his homework by midnight.

3. My mother insists that my father (exercise / exercises) regularly.

4. Is it really necessary that Gail and I (to attend / attend) this meeting?

5. It is important that you (be given / will given) your medication by a

qualified nurse.

6. He recommended that I (took care / take care) to study longer than

twenty minutes for the next test.

Exercise 2 Rewrite the sentences in the past subjunctive. Use the given words.

1. She sings as well as a pop star. as if

She sings as if she were a pop star.

2. I’m short, so I can’t dunk a basketball. taller

_____________________________________________________________

3. If it’s sunny tomorrow, I’ll go to the beach. now

_____________________________________________________________

4. Pretend that you’re homeless. What will you do? suppose

_____________________________________________________________

5. Three players on our team are injured, so we’ll probably lose. healthy . . . win
_____________________________________________________________

6. Charlotte wants to work at a bookstore so that she can get a

discount on books. wish
_____________________________________________________________

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Part C

Exercise 3 Use the words to write complete sentences. Add prepositions and
articles if necessary. Change the forms of the verbs if necessary.

1. I – wish – my dog – be – friendlier.

_____________________________________________________________

2. She – insist – we – try – cake– last night.

_____________________________________________________________

3. If – he – have – longer – hair, – he – will – look – like – girl.

_____________________________________________________________

4. It – be – important – she – ask – her doctor – before – starting – diet.

_____________________________________________________________

Further Learning
Past Perfect Subjunctive (Third Conditional)
The past perfect subjunctive is also called the third conditional. Like second
conditional sentences, third conditional sentences talk about unreal situations.
However, they are about the past. They are formed like this:
If clause Result clause
If + subject + past perfect verb, subject + would/could/might have + past participle.
· If they had eaten lunch, they wouldn’t have been
hungry. (In fact, they didn’t eat lunch, so they were hungry.)
· If she hadn’t forgotten her book, she would have studied
yesterday. (She forgot her book, so she didn’t study yesterday.)
· You might have enjoyed the party if you had come.
(You didn’t come, so you didn’t enjoy the party.)

Quick Check Circle the correct answers.

1. If she (hadn’t / hasn’t) met Tim, she wouldn’t have gotten married.
2. We could (have won / won) the big game if we had practiced more.
3. I might have failed if you (hadn’t helped / wouldn’t have helped) me.
4. If I had known you were waiting for me, I (would have / had)
walked faster.

Part C 15