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Subjunctive
The subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form in English.
Structure of the Subjunctive
The structure of the subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs
except the past tense of be, the subjunctive is the same as the
bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"):
be (past) be all other verbs (past &
(present) present)
I were I be I work
you were you be you work
he, she, he, she, it be he, she, it work
it were we be we work
we were you be you work
you were they be they work
they were
The subjunctive does not change according to person (I, you, he
etc).
Use of the Subjunctive
We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are
not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when
talking about events that somebody:
• wants to happen
• anticipates will happen
• imagines happening
Look at these examples:
• The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
• It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
• If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.
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The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:
• the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose,
recommend, request, suggest + that
• the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important,
necessary, vital + that
Here are some examples with the subjunctive:
• The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
• The board of directors recommended that he join the
company.
• It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
• It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the
weekend.
Notice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the
same. It does not matter whether the sentence is past or present.
Look at these examples:
• Present: The President requests that they stop the
occupation.
• Past: The President requested that they stop the
occupation.
• Present: It is essential that she be present.
• Past: It was essential that she be present.
The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in American
English than in English, where should + infinitive is often used:
• The manager insists that the car park should be locked at
night.
• It was essential that we should vote as soon as possible.
We usually use the subjunctive were instead of "was"
after if (and other words with similar meaning). Look at these
sentences:
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• If I were you, I would ask her.
• Suppose she were here. What would you say?
Why do we say "I were", "he were"?
We sometimes hear things like "if I were you, I would go" or
"if he were here, he would tell you". Normally, the past tense of
the verb "to be" is: I was, he was. But the if I were you structure
does not use the past simple tense of the verb "to be". It uses
the past subjunctive of the verb "to be". In the following
examples, you can see that we often use the subjunctive
form were instead of "was" after:
• if
• as if
• wish
• suppose
Formal Informal
(The were form is correct (The was form is possible in
at all times.) informal, familiar conversation.)
If I were younger, I would If I was younger, I would go.
go.
If he weren't so mean, he If he wasn't so mean, he would
would buy one for me. buy one for me.
I wish I weren't so slow! I wish I wasn't so slow!
I wish it were longer. I wish it was longer.
It's not as if I were ugly. It's not as if I was ugly.
She acts as if she She acts as if she was Queen.
were Queen.
If I were you, I should tell Note: We do not normally say "if I
her. was you", even in familiar
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conversation.
Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive. Here are some
examples:
• Long live the King!
• God bless America!
• Heaven forbid!
• Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
• Come what may, I will never forget you.
• We are all citizens of the world, as it were.
Examples
1. It is essential that she (is/be) at the meeting.
2. If I (was/were) you, I would call her tonight.
3. It is necessary that every student (wear/wears) a uniform.
4. I hope that he (finish/finishes) his homework on time.
5. The doctors recommended that she (take/takes) a holiday.
6. The boss asks that you (be/are) early for your first day of work.
7. If you (be/were) feeling better, we would go.
8. It is important that we (call/called) home as soon as we arrive.
9. The landlord requested that John (move/moves) out of the
apartment.
10. We want the windows (be/to be) washed before Friday.
Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
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to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
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:
• 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 Subjunctive
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.
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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.
