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English subjunctive
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Main page In English grammar, the English subjunctive is a verb mood typically used in dependent clauses to express a wish, an emotion, a
Contents possibility, a judgement, an opinion, a necessity, or an action that has not occurred yet. It sometimes is referred to as the conjunctive
Featured content mood, as it often follows a conjunction.
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1 Form
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1.1 Modern form
Interaction 1.1.1 Present and past subjunctive
Help 1.1.2 The pluperfect subjunctive
About Wikipedia 1.1.3 Future subjunctive
Community portal 1.1.4 Construction by inversion
Recent changes 1.2 History
Contact Wikipedia
2 Usage
Toolbox 2.1 To express a command, request, or suggestion
2.2 To express a wish
Print/export
2.3 To express a hypothesis
2.4 To express a purpose
2.5 To express a doubt or supposition
2.5.1 Set phrases
3 Hyperusage
4 Reduction in the usage of the subjunctive
5 See also
6 Bibliography
7 Sources
8 External links

Form [edit]

Modern form [edit]

The subjunctive in Modern English is easily distinguished in a great variety of contexts wherein the sense is past tense, but the form of
the subjunctive verb required is present: "It was required that we go to the back of the line." Were it not for the subjunctive, the form of "to
go" for an action in the past would be went. Compare with the indicative, "Everyone knows that we went to the back of the line."

Present Present Past Past Future Future Present negative Present negative
indicative subjunctive indicative subjunctive indicative subjunctive indicative subjunctive
I shall own
I own I own I owned I owned he/she/it I were to own I do not own
to own I not own
he/she/it he/she/it he/she/it he/she/it will own he/she/it were he/she/it does not
(example he/she/it not own
owns own owned owned we shall to own own
regular we/you/they not
we/you/they we/you/they we/you/they we/you/they own we/you/they we/you/they do not
verb) own
own own owned owned you/they were to own own
will own
I shall be
I was I were he/she/it I were to be
I am I be I am not
he/she/it he/she/it will be he/she/it were I not be
he/she/it is he/she/it be he/she/it is not
to be was were we shall to be he/she/it not be
we/you/they we/you/they we/you/they are
we/you/they we/you/they be we/you/they we/you/they not be
are be not
were were you/they were to be
will be

As shown in the above table, the form of the subjunctive is distinguishable from the indicative in five circumstances:
1. in the third person singular of any verb in the present tense;
2. in the first and third persons singular of the verb "be" in the past tense;
3. in all instances of the verb "be" in the present tense;
4. in all instances of all verbs in the future tense; and
5. in all instances of all verbs in the present negative tense.
The verb "be" is distinguishable because its forms in Modern English derive from three different stems in Old English: beon (be, being,
been), wesan (was, is), and waeron (am, art, are, were).[citation needed]
The modal auxiliaries have no present subjunctive forms.[citation needed]

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All Modern English modal auxiliary verbs are conjugated the same in both past and present indicative/subjunctive forms; therefore, no
change occurs.
Example: I can run fast. ["can" is an indicative form] (formal form: I am able to run fast.)
Example: I shall do it so that he can go. ["can" is a subjunctive form] (formal form: I shall do it so that he be able to go.)
In Early Modern English, the past subjunctive was distinguishable from the past indicative not only in the verb to be (as in Modern
English), but also in the informal second-person singular of all verbs. For example: indicative thou sattest, but subjunctive thou sat.
Nevertheless, in some texts in which the pronoun thou is used, a final -est or -st sometimes is added; for example, thou beest appears
frequently in the work of Shakespeare and some of his contemporaries.

Present and past subjunctive [edit]

The terms present subjunctive and past subjunctive can be misunderstood, as they describe forms rather than meanings. The past and
present subjunctives are so-called because they resemble the past and present indicatives (respectively), but the difference between
them is a difference in modality, not in temporality.
For example, in "I asked that it be done yesterday," be done (a present subjunctive) has no present-tense sense. Likewise, in "If that
were true, I would know it," were (a past subjunctive) has no past-tense sense and instead describes a counterfactual condition.
When used in such counterfactual sentences with "if", the past subjunctive form usually is called the "present conditional" or "conditional
2" in modern textbooks, though some grammarians reserve these terms for the form with "would" in the second clause of the sentence.
To give another example, "It is high time (that) we bought a new car". Although bought appears to be the past tense of the verb to buy,
the car has not been purchased yet. Here, the past subjunctive is used to express a wish or a suggestion.
One also could say, "It is high time we buy a new car," which is using present subjunctive. Also, "It is time I be the pitcher," etc…
Example: I would rather that he do/did that. Example: I would rather that he have/had done that.
The above examples show when both a past and present subjunctive form can be used (or a past perfect and present perfect subjunctive
form).
The pluperfect subjunctive [edit]
Since the "past subjunctive" is not a true past tense, it uses as its past tense what is structurally its perfect form. This past tense is
known as the past perfect subjunctive or pluperfect subjunctive; it is formed using had (the past subjunctive of to have) plus the verb's
past participle.
The pluperfect subjunctive is used like the past subjunctive, except that it expresses a past-tense sense. For example:
Had I known (yesterday), I would have done something about it.
If I had seen you, I definitely would have said hello.
I would not be here had he not helped me.
When used in such counterfactual sentences with "if", this form usually is called the "past conditional" or "conditional 3" in modern
textbooks, though some grammarians reserve these terms for the form with "would" in the second clause of the sentence.
If a clause should be in a past tense, then a clause subordinate to it cannot be in the past subjunctive, though it might be in the
pluperfect subjunctive; however, if it is in a present tense, then a clause subordinate to it might be in either of the two, depending on the
meaning.
The pluperfect subjunctive often is replaced with the past subjunctive in colloquial speech, a substitution that commonly is considered
incorrect. (See prescription and description.)
Note that by contrast, the present perfect subjunctive — that he have done — often is used in descriptions of requirements. For example,
this sentence declares two years of Spanish to be an important requirement for continuation:
It is important that he have completed two years of Spanish before graduation.
However, this sentence emphasizes that what is important is the fact that he has completed two years of Spanish:
It is important that he has completed two years of Spanish before graduation.
Another example, though somewhat formal or archaic would be:
1. If he have completed all of his work, he can go outside to play.
This means this:
2. In the event that he have completed all of his work, he can go outside to play.
This differs from using the present perfect indicative "has completed" here because that would mean that it is considered true that he has
completed his work. The present perfect subjunctive thus indicates that the person may have completed his work, but it is entirely
unknown.
Future subjunctive [edit]
A future subjunctive can be constructed using the conjugated form of the verb "to be" plus the infinitive or with the usage of the modal
auxiliary verb "should". Note that the "were" clauses are followed by the present conditional ("would"), while the "should" clauses are
followed by the future indicative ("will"). For example:
Were I to die tomorrow, then you would inherit everything.
If you were to give the money to me, then I would say no more about it.
If I should go, then will you feed the hens? [or If I/he go...]
If he should fall, who will carry the flag in his place? [or If he fall...]
Construction by inversion [edit]
Where the subjunctive is used after "if" in a counterfactual condition (see below), the same effect can be achieved by omitting the "if" and

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inverting the verb and subject positions.
If I were the President... / Were I the President...
If he had known then... / Had he known then...
If that be the case then... / Be that the case then...

History [edit]

The subjunctive suffixes in Old, Middle, and Modern English regular verbs[1]
Present tense Past tense
Singular Singular
First Second Third Plural First & third Second Plural
person person person person person
Old English -e *-e *-e *-en -d-e *-d-e -d-on
Middle English *-e *-e *-e -e(n) ? ? -d-e(n)
Early Modern
-ø *-ø *-ø -ø -d *-d -d
English
Modern English -ø -ø *-ø -ø

* Indicates where the subjunctive suffix varies from the indicative.

Usage [edit]

To express a command, request, or suggestion [edit]

Content clauses expressing commands, requests, or suggestions commonly use the present subjunctive in US English, but this usage
is now rare in speech and rare in writing in UK English. Such clauses may be introduced by a verb like propose, suggest, recommend,
move (in the parliamentary sense), demand, or mandate, by an adjective like imperative, important, adamant, or necessary, or by a noun
like insistence or proposal.
This use of the subjunctive is known as the mandative subjunctive or the jussive subjunctive and is said to be the commonest use of
the subjunctive in English.[2] Other authorities say that this use is much less common than that in suppositions or hypotheses (e.g. "If
she asked for help, I would help her.") In UK English, a construction with "should" often is considered preferable.[3]
Note that the present subjunctive is used in these cases regardless of the actual time reference (which must be conveyed by the tense of
the main verb):
I move(d) that the bill be put to a vote.
I ask(ed) that he be shown mercy.
It is (or was) necessary that we not forget our instructions. / It is (or was) necessary lest we forget our instructions.
Her insistence that he leave seems (or seemed) rude.
Some of these words have two senses: one that introduces a clause in the indicative, and one that introduces a clause in the subjunctive.
For example, insist can mean assert forcefully and persistently, in which case it introduces the indicative (He insisted that he was
innocent), or it can mean demand forcefully and persistently, in which case it introduces the subjunctive (He insisted that he be given
the chance to prove it). This use is typically North American English. The verb in such constructions sometimes is believed mistakenly to
be a sort of infinitive, contributing to the notion of the dying subjunctive.
Sometimes the verb of a main clause can be in the subjunctive mood, without any explicit word like the above; this carries the force of a
third-person request. This is the usage found in many set expressions, such as God bless you.
America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood ("America the Beautiful")
God save our gracious Queen
The traditional English text of the Aaronic blessing is cast entirely in the subjunctive, with jussive force:
The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and
give thee peace.

To express a wish [edit]

The past subjunctive is used after the verb to wish: I wish that he were here or I wished that he were there. This use of the subjunctive
sometimes is known as the "volitional" subjunctive:
Oh, I wish I were in the land of cotton.
However, after the construction would that to express wishful hypothesis rather than condition, it seems that either past or present
subjunctive could be used, depending on whether the hypothetical situation be completely abstract and not imminent (present) or
potentially realizable (past), much like above.
I would that my Lord forgive me one day.
He would that his master not be so cruel.
I would that the subjunctive be restored to glory.
BUT
I repent; I would that my Lord forgave me.
In humble request, he would that his master were not so cruel.
Fellow editors, I would that the subjunctive were restored to glory.

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To express a hypothesis [edit]
The past subjunctive is used after the conjunction if in a contrary-to-fact and contrary-to-possibility protasis. For example:
If I were a millionaire, I would buy a sports car.
If he had a car with him, he could drive us there.
If I were a rich man...
In the same vein, the past subjunctive is used following the conjunctions as if and as though to express a contrary-to-fact situation that
reality is supposed to resemble:
She looked as though she were going to kill him, but after glaring for a bit, she just stormed off.
He tried to explain it — as if he knew anything about the subject!
The past subjunctive also is used to express hypothetical situations:
? I am torn; if I were to go with choice A, I would be better off in the short term, but if I were to go with choice B, I might be
better off in the long term.

To express a purpose [edit]

The conjunction lest, indicating a negative purpose, generally introduces a subjunctive clause:
I eat lest I die.
I shall place the book back on the shelf, lest it be lost.
The conjunction in order that, indicating a positive purpose, also sometimes introduces a subjunctive clause, though it more commonly
introduces a clause using the auxiliary verb may (or in the subjunctive, might):
I am putting your dinner in the oven in order that it (may) keep warm.
He wrote it in his diary in order that he (might) remember.

To express a doubt or supposition [edit]

The subjunctive sometimes is used after other conjunctions to express doubt or supposition, although nowadays the indicative oftener
replaces this usage.
I will not let thee go, except [=unless] thou bless me. (Genesis 32:26)
Murder, though it have no tongue, will speak.
Whoever he be, he shall not go unpunished.
But [=although] he were dead, yet shall he live. (New Testament)
Fee, fie, fo, fum / I smell the blood of an Englishman; / Be he alive or be he dead, / I'll grind his bones to make my bread. (Jack
and the Beanstalk)
If I be found guilty, I shall be given the maximum punishment.
I shall not do it unless [or until] I be told to do it.
Whether he vote for this or not (If he vote for it or if he not vote for it), we must proceed with the plan.
I want you to give this money to him so that he have enough for lunch. (the conjunction "so that" takes a subjunctive in formal
English)
Set phrases [edit]
The subjunctive is used in a number of fixed phrases, relics from an older form of the language where it was much more common. Some
could be misconstrued as the imperative mood. Common examples are:
if need be
as it were
if I were you; were I you
be that as it may
(God) bless you!
come Monday (Tuesday, etc.)
come what may
far be it from (or for) me
until death do us part
God save our gracious Queen, God bless America, God keep our land glorious and free, God rest ye merry gentlemen, etc.
Heaven forbid
so be it
suffice it to say
woe betide
peace be with you
long live the king
the powers that be
albeit (a synthesis of all be it, i.e. although it be)
truth be told
would that it were
rest in peace
...need only.../...need not...

Hyperusage [edit]

The subjunctive sometimes has been used simply as a conditioned variant that follows "if" and similar words even in the absence of a

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hypothetical situation.
Johnny asked me if I were afraid. (Barbara in Night of the Living Dead (1968))
In the hypercorrection example quoted, "if" is a substitute for the unambiguous word "whether" ("Johnny asked me whether I was afraid"),
and lacks the usual, "in the event that" meaning that it has in other usage such as "If we go to bed now, we shall be up at three o'clock."
In fact, such usage is quite old; for example:
... he asked me if I were about to return to London ... (Mary Shelly The Last Man (1833))
He asked me if I were a Priest. (The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine Vol. 3, Dec. (1824))

Reduction in the usage of the subjunctive [edit]

In some dialects of English, the indicative has taken the place of the subjunctive, although some in formal speech and writing consider
this erroneous. The similarity of the subjunctive and the past tense has led to the confusion between the two, and it is evident in various
pop culture references and music lyrics.
If I was President...
If he was a ghost...
If I was a rich girl...
This reduction of usage is not uniform; compare:
If I Were a Carpenter, a song written by Tim Hardin
If I Were a Boy, a song written by Toby Gad and BC Jean and recorded by singer Beyoncé Knowles in 2008.
However, in the context of the examples above, inversion cannot occur with the indicative as it would with the subjunctive; the following
are ungrammatical, except insofar as they could be misinterpreted as questions:
Was I the President...
Was he a ghost...
Furthermore, many of the fossil phrases often are reanalysed as imperative forms rather than as the subjunctive.
The subjunctive is not uniform in all varieties of spoken English. However, it is preserved in speech, at least in North American English
and in many dialects of British English. Some dialects replace it with the indicative or construct it using a modal verb, except perhaps in
the most formal literary discourse. According to the Random House College Dictionary, "Although the subjunctive seems to be
disappearing from the speech of many, its use is still the mark of the educated speaker."[4]

See also [edit]

Subjunctive in Dutch, another West-Germanic language.

Bibliography [edit]

Curme, George O. (1977). "A Grammar of the English Language". Verbatim. ISBN 0-930454-01-4 (reprint of 1931 edition from D. C.
Heath and Company)
Chalker, Sylvia (1995). "Dictionary of English Grammar". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-860055-0
Fowler, H. W. (1926). "A Dictionary of Modern English Usage". Oxford University Press.
Hardie, Ronald G. (1990). "English Grammar". Harper Collins. ISBN 0-00-458349-3
Nesfield, J. C. (1939). "Manual of English Grammar and Composition". Macmillan.

Sources [edit]
1. ^ The Cambridge history of the English language. Richard M. Hogg, Roger Lass, Norman Francis Blake, Suzanne Romaine, R. W.
Burchfield, John Algeo. (2000).
2. ^ Quirk, Randolph; Greenbaum, Sidney; Leech, Geoffrey; Svartik, Jan (1985). "AComprehensive Grammar of the English Language".
Longman. ISBN 0-582-51734-6
3. ^ Bryson, Bill. The Penguin Dictionary of Troublesome Words. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-051200-4
4. ^ Stein, Jess, Ed. (1989). Random House College Dictionary, Revised. Random House. p. 1308.

External links [edit]

Subjunctive in English Englishpage.com's guide to the subjunctive

The English subjunctive: scholarly opinions

Categories: English grammar | Grammatical moods

This page was last modified on 8 May 2011 at 19:16.

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