STRUCTURE / GRAMMAR IV ENGLISH GRAMMAR

The English Subjunctive

1 Present subjunctive

The subjunctive is a special verb form in English used

to express something desired or imagined. The form
is the infinitive without ‘to' and it is used after
certain verbs and expressions (see the table below).

Use
After the following verbs:
ask (that), command (that),
demand (that), insist (that),
propose (that), recommend
(that), request (that), suggest
(that)
After the following
expressions:
It is best (that) , It's crucial
(that), It's desirable (that), It's mechanic.
essential (that), It's important
(that), It's recommended (that),
It's urgent (that), It's necessary
(that), It's a good idea (that),
It's a bad idea (that)
Examples
I recommend that he cone
early tonight. I suggest
you try the other
restaurant.
I insist that she stay
another night.
It's best that he leave
before noon.
It's crucial we find a good
It's important they meet us
at the airport.

Other points

• The subjunctive is only noticeable in the third person singular

(he/she/it). The other forms are identical to the present
simple, for example:

It's important they fleet us at the airport.

• The negative form of the subjunctive is formed
with ‘not':
I suggest that you not take that particular job.

1/
4
 The boss insisted that Tony not be late for the meeting.
• After many of the above expressions, the structure should
+ infinitive can sometimes be used instead of the
subjunctive. This form is used more frequently in British
English and is most common after the verbs suggest,
recommend, and insist.

I recommend that She should see a doctor.

The boss insisted that Tony Should not be late for the
meeting.

2/
4
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR

2 Past subjunctive

In English, the past subjunctive is used to refer

to unreal or improbable present or future
situations in certain clauses (see the table below)
the table below). The form is the same as the past
simple except in the case of the verb ‘be'. The
subjunctive of ‘be' is ‘were' for all persons.

Use
In second conditional
statements
After ‘I wish/If only ...'
After ‘I'd rather ...'
After ‘It's time ...'
After clauses that start with He looks as if he were
‘as if'
or ‘as though'
Examples
If I were you, I'd apply for that
job right away.
I wish I were 10 years younger.
If only he didn't talk so
much!
I'd rather he weren't here right
now.
I'd rather you didn't call so
late.
It's time they were here.
Where are they? It's time you
called a doctor.
interested.
They seem as though they
knew the way home.

Other points

• In modern English, I/he/she/it was is more common than

I/he/she/it were — were is mainly used in formal styles and
in the set phrase if I were you.
• The past subjunctive always refers to unreal situations. If the
situation is true, we use a real tense to express present time:

He looks as if he were interested. (he gives the

 ENGLISH GRAMMAR
impression that he is interested, but he (probably)
isn’t or we simply don’t know)

He looks as if he is interested. (he gives the impression

that he is interested and he probably is)
==================================
======