Learn about the Subjunctive Mood
The Subjunctive Mood represents an action not as a real fact but as something that would take place under certain conditions, something desirable, necessary or unreal, unrealizable. It is also used to express an emotional attitude of the speaker to real facts.
There are four forms of the Subjunctive Mood in English:
- the Conditional Mood
- the Suppositional Mood
- Subjunctive I (The Present Subjunctive)
- Subjunctive II (The Past Subjunctive)
The Conditional Mood has two tenses: the present and the past.
The Present Conditional is formed by means of would (should) and the Infinitive of the main verb.
I would call on him but I have very little time. Я б зайшов до нього, але у мене дуже мало часу.
The Present Conditional expresses an action which would take place under certain conditions in the present or future.
But for the rain we would work in the garden today. Якби не дощ, ми працювали б сьогодні в саду.
I’d buy the watch tomorrow but the shop will be closed. Я купив би годинник завтра, але магазин буде зачинений.
The Past Conditional is formed by means of would (should) and the Perfect Infinitive of the main verb.
She would have bought a watch but the shop was closed. Вона купила б годинник, але магазин був зачинений.
The Past Conditional is used to express an action which would have taken place under certain conditions in the past.
Yesterday I would have said the same. Вчора я сказав би теж саме.
The Conditional Mood is used in simple, compound and complex sentences to represent an action as unreal which would take (have taken) place under certain conditions expressed or implied.
But for the late hour they would stay here longer. It’s a pity I have no time. We would play chess. I’d write him a letter but I don’t know his address.
The Suppositional Mood
The Suppositional Mood is formed by means of the auxiliary verb should and the infinitive of the main verb without the particle to. The Suppositional Mood has two tenses: the present (I, he, she, it, we, you, they + should work) and the past (I, he, she, it, we, you, they + should have gone).
It is necessary that he should go there at once. I insist that you should consult the doctor.
The Suppositional Mood is used:
- after the expressions it is necessary, it is important, it is ordered, it is essential, it is vital, etc.
- after verbs denoting order, request, suggestion, etc.
- in subordinate clauses introduced by lest (щоб ні)
- in conditional clauses if the fulfilment of the condition is unlikely.
It is necessary that he should pay us a visit. He only demanded that the man should leave the country at once. Harry proposed that we should have eggs for breakfast. Mary dreaded lest he should come in. He closed the window lest the children should catch cold. If you should meet her somewhere, you might travel with her.
Subjunctive I (The Present Subjunctive)
Subjunctive I coincides in form with the infinitive without particle to. It has no tense distinctions – the same form may refer to the present, past and future. The verb to be has the form be for all the persons singular and plural:
He suggests that you be present at the meeting. He requested that the car park not be locked at night. He made a suggestion that we be early. We have made a request that we not be disturbed. The board of directors recommended that he not be dismissed. Have you seen my suggestion that work hours be reduced?
The Present Subjunctive is used:
- after the expressions it is necessary, it is important, it is ordered, etc.
- after verbs denoting order, request, suggestion, etc.
- in subordinate clauses introduced by lest (щоб ні).
It was extremely important that he remain at school. It is necessary that the place be clean. Toward evening he looked so badly that she suggested that he go to bed. He demands that we be attentive. Success attend you! It is necessary that he read it. It is required that pupils come in time. He ordered that George run to the nearest village. I suggest that you read it yourselves.
In British English Subjunctive I is used only in official documents, in scientific and technical texts and in poetry. In American English Present Subjunctive is used in literary language in general. The Present Subjunctive occurs in some set expressions:
Be it so! Suffice it to say that he soon came back. God forbid! Far be it from me to contradict you. God bless you! God save the Queen! Come what may. (будь что будет)
Subjunctive II (The Past Subjunctive)
Subjunctive II has two tenses: the present and the past. The verb to be has the form were for all the persons singular and plural. But the form was also can be found in the singular.
If I saw him tomorrow I would tell him about it. If she learned English, I’d buy her this book. If I had met her, I would have told her about it.
Subjunctive II is used to represent an action as contrary to reality:
- in simple sentences: If only he looked different! If only it could always be the spring! If you had been there, I should have seen you.
- in object clauses when the predicate of the principal clause is the verb to wish: I wish I knew where you are and what you doing. I wish I were joking. I wish I had not told you about it. We all wished that we had stopped there.
- in subbordinate clauses joined to the principal clause by yhe conjunctions as if, as though: They spoke before her as if she were not there. You just go out as though you were going for a walk. I felt as if I were being sent home.
Have Practice Using Subjunctive Mood
Task 1. Complete the sentences with the correct verb.
1.______ what may.
- Be
- Bless
- Come
- Live
- May
2. If we cannot go on holiday this year, then so ______ it!
- be
- bless
- come
- live
- may
3. God ______ us, everyone.(Christmas carol)
- be
- bless
- come
- live
- may
4. Long ______ our noble Queen! (UK national anthem)
- be
- bless
- come
- live
- may
5. ______ the force be with you! (Star Wars)
- Be
- Bless
- Come
- Live
- May
Task 2. Complete the sentences with the correct verb.
1. He suggests that everybody ______ an effort.
- be
- feel
- remain
- make
- say
2. We insist that more money ______ invested in education.
- be
- feel
- remain
- make
- say
3. They demanded that the president ______ something about the situation.
- be
- feel
- remain
- make
- say
4. The psychologists recommended that the criminal ______ in prison.
- be
- feel
- remain
- make
- say
5. It is important that each patient ______ comfortable.
- be
- feel
- remain
- make
- say
Task 3. Use the verbs in the Subjunctive Mood.
- If only they (have) ______ more time!
- I wish you (come) ______ to our party!
- If only the weather (be) ______ a little better!
- I wish they (live/not) ______ that far away.
- Would you mind if I (open) ______ the window?
Task 4. Choose the correct answer. Use Subjunctive Mood.
1.It is essential that she _____ at the meeting.
- be
- is
2. If I _____ you I would call her tonight.
- was
- were
3. It is necessary that every student _____ a uniform.
- wear
- wears
4. I hope that he _____ his homework on time.
- finish
- finishes
5. The doctors recommended that she _____ a holiday.
- take
- takes
6. The boss asks that you _____ early for your first day of work.
- are
- be
7. If he _____ feeling better we would go.
- were
- was
8. It is important that we _____ home as soon as we arrive.
- call
- called
9. The landlord requested that John _____ out of the apartment.
- move
- moves
10. We want the windows _____ washed before Friday.
- be
- to be
Task 5. Choose the correct verb.
1. I demand that he ______ immediately.
- apologize
- shall apologize
- will apologize
- has apologized
2. I suggested that she ______ her lawyer before signing the contract.
- consults
- shall consult
- should consult
- will consult
3. It’s necessary that everything ______ ready by two o’clock tomorrow.
- be
- was
- were
- would have been
4. They recommend the she _____ to a ski resort in Spain.
- will go
- would have gone
- should go
- should have gone
5. It is advisable that you _____ your application as soon as possible.
- submit
- will submit
- will have submitted
- should have submitted
6. He decided to go inside the haunted house, ______ what may.
- come
- comes
- should come
- would come
7. It is strange that he ______ so upset about such a trifle, isn’t it?
- were
- should be
- shall be
- have been
8. Far ______ it from me to criticize your plan, but I think you should change a few things in it.
- be
- is
- was
- were
9. The doctor insisted that she ______ to the hospital for tests.
- go
- goes
- will go
- has gone
10. She suggested that we ______ in the lobby of the hotel at 9:00 a.m.
- shall meet
- would meet
- will meet
- would have met
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