ENGLISH PROGRAM FOR YEAR 9

- SUBJUNCTIVES-

I. INFINITIVE IN SUBUNCTIVES
1. S1 + (V1) + that + S2 + V2 (inf.)
- This can refer to events in the past, present or future.
e.g. The principal prefers that Mr. Davis chair the meeting.
- This is often used with the following verbs: advise, ask, demand, insist, prefer, propose, recommend, request,
stipulate, suggest, urge, decree, order
- We can use the passive or negative infinitive.
e.g. The members of the Party suggested that the chairman be reelected.
Regulations require that officers not enter the crime scene without protecting clothing.

2. It + (be) + Adj + that + S + V (inf.)

- This is used to say that something is necessary or important.
e.g. In those days it was vital that the girl get her parents’ permission to get married.
- The Adjs include: advisable, desirable, essential, fatal, important, necessary, preferable, vital, obligatory,
compulsory, critical, crucial, recommended, suggested
- We can use the passive form of (1)
e.g. It was recommended that the conference be held on a Saturday.
* The subjunctive is used in reported speech, very formal language or poetry.
* British people prefer to use should + V instead of infinitive.
e.g. The landlady insisted that we pay/should pay in 3-month installments.
3. Fixed expressions
e.g. If he doesn’t want to see us, then so be it. (then let it happen.)
Bless you!
Long live the republic!
‘There’s very little chance of winning this case.’ ‘Be that as it may, I’m not going to give up fighting.’

II. PAST TENSES IN THE SUBJUCTIVES

1. It’s time + S + V-ed
- We use this to say that something is not happening and it should be.
e.g. It’s time we left. (= We are not leaving and we should.)
It’s about time you paid a visit to your grandparents. (=You should visit them.)
It’s high time that the voice of the people was heard in this House. (= Their voice isn’t being heard and it
should be.)
* We cannot use negative after it’s time.
e.g. It’s time we didn’t stay. (WRONG)
* We can also use It’s time for + Object + to V
e.g. I’m afraid it’s time to put your books away now, children.
Come on everybody. It’s time for us to get on the coach.
2. I would rather/ would sooner + S + V-ed
- We use this to talk about preferences.
e.g. I’d sooner you gave me a cash refund.
- We also use this as a polite way to give/ refuse permission, or make suggestions.
e.g. I’d rather you didn’t smoke in here.
I’m not keen on the idea of staying in. I’d sooner we went out for a walk.
3. As if/ as though
a. Unreal: ONE-TENSE BACK
e.g. He talks to the dogs as though they were his children. (They are not his children.)
- We use this to say that how something appears now does not match with reality.
e.g. He looks as if he had seen a ghost. (He didn’t see a ghost.)
b. Real
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- We use present tenses after as if/ as though to describe how things seem or appear when there is a possibility
that the appearance reflects something real.
e.g. He sounds as if he knows what he is talking about. (Perhaps he knows.)
You look as if you haven’t eaten for days. (You may not have eaten.)
4. Wish:

Task 1: Put the verbs in bracket the correct tense:

1. It’s just struck midnight. It’s high time we (leave) ______!
2. If only we (have) ______ a phone! I’m tired of queuing outside the public phone box.
3. He walks as if he (have) _______ a wooden leg.
4. He talked as if he (do) _______ all the work himself, but in fact Tom and I did most of it.
5. Father: I’ve supported you all through university. Now I think it’s time you (begin) _______ to support
yourself.
6. I wish I (know) ___ ____ what is wrong with my car.
7. I wish I (ask) _______ the fishmonger to clean these fish. (I’m sorry I didn’t ask him)
8. It’s time we (do) ________something to stop road accidents.
9. It’s high time we (mend) _______ this road.
10. He always talks as though he (address) _ ______ a public meeting.
11. He treats us as if we (be) ________ all idiots.
12. Wife: I’d like a job.
Husband: I’d much rather you (stay) ________ at home and (look) _______ after the house.
13. If you (tie) _______ the boat up, it wouldn’t have drifted away.
14. I wish you (not give) _______ him my telephone number. ( I’m sorry you gave it to him)
15. If only he (know) _______ then that the disease was curable!
16. You talk as though it (be) _ ______ a small thing to leave your country forever.
17. I hate driving. I’d rather much you (drive) _______.
18. If only I (be) _______ insured! (But I wasn’t insured)
19. If only I (keep) ________my mouth shut! (I said something which made matters much worse)
20. I’ll pay you by cheque monthly.
I’d rather you (pay) ____ ____ me by cash weekly.

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Task 2: 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.
1. Do you ever regret not going to university? WISH Do you ever …wish you had gone …. to
university?
2. I should really be going home now.
TIME It’s _______ _______________________home now
3. I’d rather not go by plane.
PREFER I’d ____ ________________________ go by plane.
4. Jack doesn’t know all the answers.
ACTS Jack _____ ______________________all the answers.
5. I’d love to be able to go with you to the opera.
WISH I ____ _____________________ go with you to the opera.
6. It’s a pity I sold that old building.
SOLD I _______ ______________________________old building.
7. I’d rather you didn’t stay long at the party.
BETTER It ______ ___________________ stay long at the party.
8. I’ve had enough of your constant complaint!
WISH I _______ _________________________ complaining all the time!
9. I’d love to be on a beach in Turkey now.
WISH I ____ ____________________ on a beach in Turkey right now.

TASK 3: Rewrite these sentences.

1. The management said it was important for us to wear dark suits to the meeting.
The management insisted ___________________________ dark suits to the meeting.
2. Ms Hanson thinks that the director should divide our class into two sections.
Ms Hanson recommended that our __________________________________________
3. Someone must tell her the truth about her illness.
It is essential that she _______________________________________________________
4. The customs officer ordered all passengers to open your suitcase for inspection.
The customs officer demanded that all passengers _________________________________
5. “Ann, you should take some art courses.” the counselor said.
The counselor recommended that _____________________________________________
6. All parts of the motor must work correctly.
It is vital that _______________________________________________________________
7. “Please mail all packages at the central office.” the director said.
The director requests that all_________________________________________________
8. Soldiers must obey their officers.
It is imperative that __________________________________________________________
9. We must remember to give the babysitter certain phone numbers to call in case of emergency.
It is important that the babysitter _______________________________________________

TASK 4: Choose the best answers.

1. It’s urgent that the doctor _____ up his mind without delay.
A. makes/ B. make/ C. made/ D. is to make
2. I am not a teacher of English, but suppose I _____, then I _____ set up a language centre.
A. am/ can B. were/ can C. was/ could D. were/ could
3. His friends desired that he _____ for that post.
A. applies/ B. apply/ C. applying/ D. will apply
4. It’s high time we _____ these mice.
A. are getting rid of B. are going to get rid of C. get rid of D. got rid of
5. She would rather ______ at the quiet countryside inn than ______ the bustling city hotel, but her colleagues
had already made the reservations.
A. stayed/endured B. stay/endure
C. have stayed/have endured D. had stayed/had endured
6. I wish this English course _____ the whole year.
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A. will last B. may last C. lasted D. last
7. The politician spoke with such conviction ______ he had personally experienced every hardship he
described.
A. as though B. only if C. suppose D. provided that
8. It’s high time everyone _______ their socks up.
A. pulled B. to pull C. pulling D. had pulled
9. He was not a dutiful son. I wish he _____.
A. was/ B. were/ C. has been/ D. had been
10. He wishes he _____ the college last year.
A. entered/ B. had entered/ C. would entered/ D. has been entering
11. It is desirable that he _____ a certificate in English?
A. will get/ B. gets/ C. get/ D. would get
12. I demand that I _____ to retake the exam.
A. be allowed B. am allowed C. will be allowed D. were allowed
13. I wish you _____ quiet a moment, I can’t hear what _____.
A. would keep / the teacher is saying B. kept / the teacher said
C. will keep / the teacher saying D. had kept / had the teacher said
14. She made a lot of mistakes but I wish she _____.
A. didn’t/ B. hadn’t/ C. wouldn’t/ D. didn’t
15. Given the opportunity to manage that international project, I would sooner you ______ the complex
logistical challenges than delegate them.
A. tackle B. had tackled C. tackled D. tackling
16. She walked into the room with an air of absolute confidence as if she ______ there before.
A. has been B. had been C. were D. was
17. It is crucial that Mary _____ speak English.
A. be able to B. is able to C. was able to D. must be able to
18. The director requests that all packages _____ at the central office.
A. to mail B. be mailed C. to be mailed D. mailing
19. “Marie practices the piano so early in the morning.” “We asked _____, but she won’t.”
A. that she stops B. her stopping C. her to stop D. for her stop
20. It is impossible that he ______ back and take charge of the task.
A. will come B. come C. coming D. should come
21. “What time should Eric start to work?” “It is advisable that _____ here about 7:30.”
A. that he be B. that he will be C. him to be D. him being
22. If only I ______ a young girl again and ______ the chance to do something else.
A. was - have B. would be - have had C. were - had D. were - have

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