THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD
We use the subjunctive to:
Express wishes or conditions contrary to fact
Make demands, suggestions or recommendations (mandative subjunctive)
Mean let or may in idiomatic expressions (formulaic subjunctive)
EXPRESS WISHES OR CONDITIONS CONTRARY TO FACT
The subjunctive mood of a verb is used to express a wish or a condition contrary to
fact. When it is used to express a condition contrary to fact, the clause often starts
with if, as if or as though.
I wish I were you.
If I were a carpenter, would you marry me anyway?
She acted as if she were guilty.
If I had slept more, I wouldn’t have fallen asleep.
This type of subjunctive is indicated by the use of were instead of was with singular
subjects.
MANDATIVE SUBJUNCTIVE
The mandative subjunctive is used with clauses that often begin with that and express
a demand, requirement, request, recommendation or suggestion. You can sometimes
delete that with no loss of meaning.
The mandative subjunctive is indicated by the use of the base form of the verb (love,
skip, hop) with the third person singular.
Management recommends that the committee approve the project.
I demand (that) he leave immediately.
He suggested that his student use the fire escape exit.
I insist (that) the cat be returned to its owner.
She recommends that the house be rewired.
FORMULAIC SUBJUCTIVE
The formulaic subjunctive is used in idiomatic expressions to convey the meaning of let
or may. It uses the base form of the verb.
Be that as it may…
Heaven forbid!
May God bless you.
The force be with you.
USE OF SUBJUCTIVE MOOD
EXPRESSIONS FOLLOWED BY THE SUBJUNCTIVE
The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:
It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
Examples:
Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.
Donna requested Frank come to the party.
The teacher insists that her students be on time.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY THE SUBJUNCTIVE
The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:
to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
Examples:
It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.
It is important she attend the meeting.
It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike to
the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
NEGATIVE, CONTINUOUS AND PASSIVE FORMS OF SUBJUCTIVE
The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.
Negative Examples:
The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.
The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during
business hours.
I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.
Passive Examples:
Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.
Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.
We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.
Continuous Examples:
It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.
It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.
I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.
SHOULD AS SUBJUNCTIVE
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to express
the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is
most common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist."
Examples:
The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.
Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.
