Subjunctive – Exercises
1) Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate verb form
a) I’d rather you …………………………… (not/watch) television while I’m reading
b) It’s high time you …………………………… (start) working seriously.
c) I wish I …………………………….. (spend) more time swimming last summer.
d) Helen is bossy. She acts as if she ………………………….. (own) the place.
e) I wish you ………………………………… (not/keep) coming late to class.
f) Suppose a complete stranger ……………………………. (leave) you a lot of money in their
will!
g) I wish I ……………………… (go) to your party after all.
h) I’d rather you ……………………………. (sit) next to Susan, please.
i) The government demanded that the ambassador ……………………………… (be) recalled.
j) You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I …………………………. (go) with you.
2) Correct the errors in each sentence.
a) I wish I bought that old house,
b) I’d rather you don’t eat all the bread.
c) It’s time I leave
d) I wish I own a motorbike.
e) I wish we are not leaving in the morning.
f) Sue would rather reading than watching TV.
g) Come what comes, I’ll be on your side.
h) I hope it would stop raining.
i) I’d prefer if you didn’t wait.
j) I wish I didn’t listen to you before.
3) Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the
word given. Do not change the word given.
a) Do you ever regret not going to university?
Wish
Do you ever …………………………………………………. to university?
b) I should really be going home now.
Time
It’s ……………………………………………………………home
c) I’d rather not go by plane.
Prefer
I’d …………………………………………………… go by plane.
d) Jack doesn’t know all the answers, though he pretends to.
Acts
Jack ……………………………………………………………….. all the answers.
e) I’d love to be able to go with you to the opera.
Wish
I …………………………………………………………… go with you to the opera.
f) I wish I hadn’t sold that old painting.
Pity
It’s ……………………………………………………………… that old painting.
g) I’d rather you didn’t stay long at the party.
Better
It …………………………………………… stay long at the party.
h) The management said it was important for us to wear dark suits to the meeting.
Insisted
The management ……………………………………………………. dark suits to the meeting.
i) I’ve had enough of your constant complaining!
Wish
I ……………………………………………….. complaining all the time.
j) I’d love to be sitting on a beach in Turkey right now!
Wish
I ………………………………………………….. on a beach in Turkey right now.
4) Translate into English
Main clause Conjunction Subjunctive Form used
He is/was walking as if 1. Simultaneitate: he did not know
as though 2. Anterioritate: he had already forgotten.
1. Fiica vitrega ii e la fel de draga mamei, de parca ar fi propriul ei copil.
2. Vorbea, de parca toate ideile lui erau in defavoarea planurilor noastre.
3. Imi spunea ca satul e departe de mare, de parca credea ca am de gand sa plec dis-de-dimineata.
4. Se scuza de parca eroarea lui s-a datorat grabei.
5. Era absorbit de munca, de parca ar fi incercat cineva sa-l santajeze.
6. Esti invidios pe norocul ei, de parca ar fi castigat o multime de bani si ar fi refuzat sa iti dea si
tie.
Main clause Subjunctive Form Used
I wish = as vrea 1. you came = sa vii
I wished = as fi vrut You would come now = (ce n-as da) sa vii
2. you had come yesterday = sa fi venit
1. As vrea ca rezultatele tale la examen sa corespunda sperantelor.
2. As vrea sa gasesc pe cineva expert in chimie care sa-mi poata ajuta fiul.
3. As vrea ca el sa stie daca ea i-a fost sau nu necredincioasa.
4. Ce n-as da sa fii mai recunoscator pompierilor care te-au ajutat cand erai la ananghie.
5. Ce n-as da sa intelegi ca ideea ta este in detrimentul tuturor.
6. As vrea ca tu sa nu-l fi chemat pe instalatorul acela, fiindca e mai putin bun decat cel pe care-l
chem de obicei cand am nevoie de instalator in casa.
7. Am vrea ca tu sa te fi simtit mai indatorat ingrijitorului de la gradina zoológica cand te-a
salvat de leul care era in libertate.
Main clause Subjunctive Form used
I would rather/sooner = as prefera 1. he left now = sa plece
If only = macar daca 2. he had arrived long ago = sa fi sosit
Suppose = daca cumva
It is (high) time = e vremea sa
1. As prefera sa nu fii amestecat in vreun jaf.
2. Ar prefera ca eu sa nu fi spus nimanui ca e nebun dupa ea.
3. As prefera ca ei sa fi avut mila de prizonieri.
4. Macar daca nu se opunea oricarei schimbari!
5. Macar daca ar asculta de reguli!
6. Macar daca n-ai sta langa un borfas!
7. Daca cumva e neglijent si lasa usa descuiata?
8. Daca cumva era sigur de victorie si nu mai castiga nimic?
9. E vremea sa angajezi pe cineva calificat pentru slujba.
10. Era vremea sa fi fost tras la raspundere pentru toate greselile tale.
Formulaic Subjunctive
Long live England! = traiasca Anglia!
May you be happy! = sa fii fericit!
Come what may = fie ce-o fi!
1. Sa traiesti pana la varsta strabunicii tale.
2. Traiasca cei ce sunt satui de dulciuri si le lasa copiilor.
Main clause Conjunction Subjunctive form used
It is that he (should) go
natural/advisable/vital/essential
, etc.
I suggest/insist/demand
1. Propun sa citim cu totii aceasta carte.
2. Directorul scolii ceru ca baietii sa danseze cu fetele pana le epuizeaza.
3. E normal ca a facut cariera, intrucat stim cu totii ca e foarte ambitios.
4. Comitetul a propus ca dl Dave sa fie ales.
5. Este recomandabil ca taxa sa fie abolita.
