The term “subjunctive” refers to one of the grammatical “moods” that color the verb in a sentence. Verbs in the subjunctive mood indicate that the action or state described by the verb is hypothetical or counter to reality (e.g., “They proposed that the city build a new bridge,” “If I were you, I’d buy it”). In English, there are five moods: indicative, subjunctive, imperative, interrogative, and conditional. Grammatical mood is something that indicates a certain perspective on what is being said. It has to do with things like what is considered to be real, what one desires or recommends to become real, what would be real under a particular condition, or what one knows to be purely hypothetical or impossible. For example, verbs in the indicative mood express what is considered reality (“I listened to the song twice,” “She’s going to stop at the store on her way back.”) Verbs in the imperative mood (e.g., “Listen!” “Stop!”) indicate that what is being said is a request, and verbs in the subjunctive mood, again, indicate that the action or condition is hypothetical–perhaps proposed but not currently real–or counter to reality altogether.
The verb of a sentence can show its “mood” by the form that the verb takes.* In English, verbs have relatively few unique forms, however, so it is not always easy to judge the mood of a verb simply by looking at its form; still, there are some ways to identify the operation of the subjunctive mood. In the following sentences, the verbs in italics are in the subjunctive mood, which explains why there is no “-s” at the end of verbs in the third person singular as one would expect if they were in the more typical indicative mood in the present tense. Notice also how negatives are formed with these italicized verbs.
They demanded that she leave immediately.
He insisted that they not drive in the snow storm.
She asked that he be more punctual in the future.
The lawyer recommended that she not sign the document just yet.
The council proposed that the city expand its bus service.
The school requires that each student provide proof of immunization.
The sentences above contain forms in what is called the present subjunctive. Present subjunctive forms look exactly like the infinitive form of a verb (without the word “to”). Below are all the present subjunctive forms of the verb “to be” with their associated subjects.
| I be | you be |
| he be | we be |
| she be | they be |
| it be |
Below are all the present subjunctive forms of the verb “to make.”
| I make | you make |
| he make | we make |
| she make | they make |
| it make |
The “present subjunctive” plays a relatively small, but nonetheless important, role in modern English. Certain verbs, when followed by a clause beginning with “that,” require a subjunctive form of the verb in the following clause. For example, the verbs “request,” suggest,” “advise,” and “insist” are followed by a clause in the subjunctive mood.**
The hotel requests that each guest sign the register upon check-in.
The doctor suggested that she take up yoga.
The lawyer advised that he be patient and not do anything rash.
The customer insisted that she receive a full refund.
All the examples of the subjunctive above are shown with a third person singular subject. This is simply to make it more obvious that the form of the verb is subjunctive rather than indicative. Most indicative and subjunctive forms look identical.
Other uses of the present subjunctive are extremely limited in modern English. Certain adjectives followed by a “that” clause take the subjunctive, as in “It’s important/necessary/mandatory that he follow these instructions exactly.” And certain constructions such as “in order that” and “lest” are also followed by verbs in the subjunctive (e.g., “She left two hours early lest she miss her train.”) Certain set phrases such as “God save the Queen,” and “God bless you” also contain present subjunctive forms.
The “past subjunctive” is somewhat more active in that it is the form that is used in “if” and “wish that” clauses when describing something contrary to fact or considered impossible or highly improbable. Past subjunctive forms look identical to indicative past tense forms. However, the subjunctive form for the verb “be” is “were” for all subjects.
If I were you, I’d sell that car while it still has some value.
He wishes he were here with us now.
If she were the child’s mother, she would have acted differently.
If I went to that school, I think I’d be happier than I am here.
I wish I had some money to help you with, but I really can’t spare any.
Although the term “past subjunctive” is used to describe these verb forms, the meaning conveyed is not one of past time. When it’s necessary to indicate past time, forms that look like the indicative past perfect are used.
If I had been there last night, I would have tried to help. (But I wasn’t there.)
If he had seen the deer, he would have braked earlier. (But he didn’t see it.)
If they had been here yesterday, they would have gotten all the instructions. (But they weren’t here.)
I wish that I had gone to see a doctor sooner than I did. I might have avoided this surgery.
He wishes he hadn’t acted so hastily. He strongly regrets what he did now.
*The conditional mood is created by the use of “would” or other modal auxiliary preceding the verb–the verb itself does not have a special form to show conditional. A typical conditional sentence is in the form of “If I were you, I would tell him the truth.” The interrogative mood is typically created by subject-verb inversion (“Are you ready?”) or by the employment of an auxilary verb before the subject (“Do you think so?”).
**The requirement for the present subjunctive after certain verbs following a “that“ clause is felt more strongly in American English than in British English. Speakers of British English often insert “should” before some of these verbs or may avoid these constructions altogether when possible. Instead of “He advised that she be on time,” a British speaker might say “He advised that she should be on time” or “He advised her to be on time.” American speakers may be inclined to avoid the subjunctive as well if there is a grammatically correct alternative. The subjunctive can feel somewhat formal.