View source for Subjunctive mood (grammatical verb form)

The grammatical '''subjunctive mood''' of a verb indicates a hypothetical or necessity.


The subjunctive mood marks several grammatical functions, usually working with "that" and "be"

== Types of subjunctives ==
(In the below examples, the subjunctive mood verbs are in '''bold''')

=== Mandative verbs ===
express urgency, a request or a recommendation

* are usually followed by "that"
* use "bare verb" forms

examples

* ''I suggest [that] you '''get''' moving''
** as opposed to "I suggest punctuality"
* ''She asked that I '''finish''' by noon''
** as opposed to "She asked me to finish by noon," which is not subjunctive
* ''The program requires that students '''complete''' their exams''
** as opposed to "The program requires completion of exams"

=== Adjectival expressions ===
express advice or recommendation, often formal or evaluative

examples:

* ''It is recommended that students '''arrive''' on time'' 
* ''It is important that...''
* ''It is appropriate that...'' 

=== Hypotheticals and "wishes" ===
usually "if statement" that express a hypothetical or desire for an outcome that does not already exist:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Structure !! Subjunctive Sentence !! Same idea expresed without the subjunctive !! Note
|-
| '''If...were''' || If I '''were''' taller, I'd play basketball. || If I '''''was''''' taller, I could play basketball. || rowspan="4" |
* the subjunctive mood employs bare verbs (without subject-verb matching;

* whereas the "indicative" mood verbs match to the subject
* the indiciative mood is also less formal than the subjunctive mood
|-
| '''I wish...were''' || I wish she '''were''' here. || I wish she '''''was''''' here. 
|-
| '''As though / as if''' || He talks as though he '''were''' the boss. || He talks like he '''''is''''' the boss. 
|-
| '''Suppose / Imagine that...''' || Suppose he '''were''' late—what then? || Imagine he '''''was''''' late—what would we do? 
|}

== "Subjunctive triggers" ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Category !! Trigger Expression !! Example Sentence !! Notes
|-
| '''Mandative Verbs''' || suggest || ''I suggest that she arrive early.''|| rowspan="7" | Typically followed by a "that"-clause with bare verb form.
|-
|  || recommend || ''They recommended that he study abroad.''
|-
|  || insist || ''She insisted that he be present.''
|-
|  || demand || ''He demanded that the report be revised.''
|-
|  || propose || ''We proposed that the meeting start later.''
|-
|  || ask || ''They asked that she submit it by noon.''
|-
|  || require || ''The school requires that students be punctual.''
|-
| '''Adjectival Expressions''' || It is essential that... || ''It is essential that he arrive on time.''|| rowspan="5" | Often formal; signals necessity or importance.
|-
|  || It is important that... || ''It is important that she be heard.''
|-
|  || It is necessary that... || ''It is necessary that they speak freely.''
|-
|  || It is appropriate that... || ''It is appropriate that he take charge.''
|-
|  || It is advisable that... || ''It is advisable that she consult a specialist.''
|-
| '''Hypotheticals & Wishes''' || If...were || ''If I were taller, I'd play basketball.''|| Classic counterfactual subjunctive form.
|-
|  || I wish...were || ''I wish she were here.''|| rowspan="3" | "Were" used instead of "was" in all persons.
|-
|  || As though / as if || ''He talks as though he were the boss.''
|-
|  || Suppose / Imagine that... || ''Suppose he were late—what then?''
|-
| '''Fixed Expressions''' || God bless you || ''God '''bless''' you.''|| rowspan="4" | Idiomatic (just that way) subjunctive.
|-
|  || Heaven forbid || ''Heaven '''forbid''' we be wrong.''
|-
|  || Be that as it may || ''Be that as it '''may''', we continued.''
|-
|  || Come what may || ''Come what '''may''', she won't leave.''
|-
|  || Long live... || ''Long '''live''' the king!''|| "live" is subjunctive, even in archaic or ceremonial speech.
|}

<small>''Notes:
* "subjunctive forms" in English rarely employ "morphological changes" (tense, conjugation, or other stem changes); 
* the "bare" verb (i.e. "arrive" instead of "arrives") and the verb "be" in all subject perspectives (person, i.e., "I", "you", "it", "they") are key indicators of the subjunctive mood.''</small>
[[Category:Grammar]]
[[Category:Verbs]]