English subjunctive
Encyclopedia
In English grammar
, the English subjunctive is the English manifestation of the subjunctive mood
, a verb
mood
typically used in dependent clause
s to express a wish, an emotion, a possibility, a judgement, an opinion, a necessity, or an action that is unlikely to occur or did not occur. It sometimes is referred to as the conjunctive mood, as it usually follows a subordinate conjunction
.
occurs in a variety of contexts in which the form of the verb used is different from what it normally would be, given the implied time of the action. Regardless of the subject, the form of the present subjunctive verb used to express present or past desires and the like in that clauses is the bare form of the infinitive (not preceded by "to"). Hence, the present subjunctive of "to go" is "I go", "you go", "he/she/it go", "we go", "they go". For instance: "It was required that he go to the back of the line" (compared with the indicative "Everyone knows that he went to the back of the line"); "It is required that he go to the back of the line" (compared with the indicative "Everyone knows that he goes to the back of the line").
The English subjunctive also occurs in counterfactual dependent clauses, using a form of the verb that in the indicative would indicate a time of action prior to the one implied by the subjunctive. It is called the past subjunctive when referring counterfactually to the present, and is called the pluperfect subjunctive when referring counterfactually to the past. It occurs in that clauses following the main-clause verb "wish" ("I wish that she were here now"; I wish that she had been here yesterday") and in if clauses expressing a condition that does not or did not hold ("If she were here right now, ..."; "If she had been here yesterday, ...").
A form of the subjunctive, called the future subjunctive, is used in if clauses of doubtful possibility with future reference; regardless of person and number, it uses the form "if I were to go".
As shown in the above table, the form of the subjunctive is distinguishable from the indicative in five circumstances:
However, even when the subjunctive and indicative forms are identical, their time references are usually different.
The verb "be" is distinctive, having a larger number of forms than other verbs, because its forms in Modern English derive from three different stems
in Old English: beon (be, being, been), wesan (was, is), and waeron (am, art, are, were).
Some modal auxiliaries
have a past subjunctive form. For example, the indicative will as in He will come tomorrow has the subjunctive form would as in I wish that he would come tomorrow. Likewise, the indicative can as in He can do it now has the subjunctive form could as in I wish that he could do it now. And the indicative shall as in I shall go there has the subjunctive form should as in If I should go there,...."
In Early Modern English
, the past subjunctive was distinguishable from the past indicative not only in the verb to be (as in Modern English), but also in the informal second-person singular of all verbs. For example: indicative thou sattest, but subjunctive thou sat.
Nevertheless, in some texts in which the pronoun thou
is used, a final -est or -st sometimes is added; for example, thou beest appears frequently in the work of Shakespeare
and some of his contemporaries.
, not in temporality. For example, in I asked that it be done yesterday, be done (a present subjunctive) has no present-tense sense, but instead refers to the past.
The present subjunctive is used in that clauses expressing desire, demand, and related emotions, as in I insist that he be here or I prefer that she go to work now. It also appears in the relatively uncommon lest clauses, as in I am running faster lest she catch me, in which lest means "so that the event in the dependent clause won't happen", and in I worried lest she catch me, in which lest indicates an adverse event that might happen.
While the above examples had both the main-clause event and the subordinate clause event in the present/future, the present subjunctive can also be used when both events are in the past. For example, in I insisted that he be here, both the demand and the demanded event are placed in the past, and in I was running faster lest she catch me, both the main-clause event and the event to be avoided are placed in the past. Thus the time frame of both events is dictated by the tense of the main-clause verb.
, not in temporality. For example, in If that were true, I would know it, the word were (a past subjunctive) has no past-tense sense and instead describes a counterfactual
condition in the present.
In addition to appearing in counterfactual if clauses (If I were there, he would know it), the past subjunctive form also appears in that clauses expressing a wish that is unlikely to be fulfilled. Usually the main-clause verb in this circumstance is wish, as in I wish that he were here now; but occasionally some other expression implying an unlikely wish is seen, as in It is high time (that) he bought a new car or I would rather that he did that. (The latter example can also be recast in the present subjunctive, expressing doubt but not as much doubt as the past subjunctive: I would rather that he do that).
In contrast, hoped-for things that may possibly occur take the indicative. In this circumstance, often the main clause verb is hope, as in I hope that he comes now. Likewise, in It is high time (that) he buys a new car, there is a real possibility that he will indeed do so.
In subordinate "if" clauses, the past subjunctive with present meaning can be distinguished from the past indicative with past meaning based on whether the verb in the main clause takes the conditional would form or not, and based on whether the tense forms (past or present form) in the two clauses are the same or different. For example:
Since the "past subjunctive" is not a true past tense (it does not express past time of occurrence), it uses as its past tense what is structurally its perfect form. This past tense is known as the past perfect subjunctive or pluperfect subjunctive; it is formed using had (the past subjunctive of to have) plus the verb's past participle
.
The pluperfect subjunctive is used like the past subjunctive, except that it expresses a past-tense sense. For example:Had I seen you, I definitely would have said hello. (Or: If I had seen you, I definitely would have said hello.)
I would not be here had he not helped me. (Or: I would not be here if he had not helped me.
When used in such counterfactual
sentences with "if", this form often is called the "past conditional
" or "conditional 3" in modern textbooks, though some grammarians reserve these terms for the form with "would" in the independent clause of the sentence. The main clause coinciding with a counterfactual if clause takes the conditional perfect
would have + past participle form for its verb if the resultant action or state occurred in the speaker's past (as in the first two examples above), but uses the present form of the conditional
, would + bare form of infinitive, if the resultant action or state is in the present (as in the third example above).
If a main clause is in the past tense, then a clause subordinate to it cannot be in the past subjunctive; instead, the subjunctive form must be the pluperfect subjunctive. However, if the main clause is in the present tense, then a clause subordinate to it might be in either of the two, depending on the meaning: for example, insistence or necessity uses the present subjunctive form as in "I insist that he go now", while a counterfactual wish takes the past subjunctive form, as in "I wish that he were leaving now."
The pluperfect subjunctive often is replaced with the past subjunctive, the past indicative, or the conditional perfect in colloquial speech, a substitution that commonly is considered incorrect. (See prescription and description.)
In situations in which the present is influenced by the past, the present perfect subjunctive — that he have done — often is used in descriptions of requirements. For example, the following sentence declares two years of Spanish to be an important requirement for continuation:
Note the contrast between the previous sentence with a subjunctive usage connoting necessity with the following sentence, which expresses a fact rather than a desire and thus uses the present perfect indicative:
"should" followed by the bare infinitive. Note that the "were" clauses are followed by the present conditional
("would"), while the "should" clauses are followed by the future indicative
("will"), because the "were" clauses express more doubt. For example:
The "should" form is seldom used in American English; instead the indicative form If I go,... is usually used.
In contrast to the were to go subjunctive form for future reference, English has an am / is / are to go form for the indicative scheduled future. For example, I am to go there tomorrow indicates something that is scheduled, and therefore very probable, whereas If I were to go there tomorrow, I would ..." indicates that there is substantial doubt about whether I will go.
s expressing commands, requests, or suggestions commonly use the present subjunctive in US English, but this usage is now rare in speech and rare in writing in UK English. Such clauses may be introduced by a verb like propose, suggest, recommend, move (in the parliamentary sense), demand, or mandate, by an adjective like imperative, important, adamant, or necessary, or by a noun like insistence or proposal.
This use of the subjunctive is known as the mandative subjunctive or the jussive subjunctive and is said to be the commonest use of the subjunctive in English.
Note that the present subjunctive is used in these cases regardless of the actual time reference (which must be conveyed by the tense of the main verb):
Some of these words have two senses in different contexts: one that introduces a clause in the indicative, and one that introduces a clause in the subjunctive. For example, insist can mean assert forcefully and persistently as a statement of fact, in which case it introduces the indicative (He insisted that he was found not guilty of the charges; I insist that he is there), or it can mean demand forcefully and persistently, in which case it introduces the subjunctive (He insisted that he be found not guilty of the charges; I insist that he be there). This use of the subjunctive is typically found in North American English. The verb in such constructions sometimes is believed mistakenly to be a sort of infinitive, contributing to the notion of the dying subjunctive.
The following main-clause nouns, when expressing a desire specified in a subordinate "that" clause, often lead to the subordinate-clause verb taking the subjunctive mood: preference, proposal, request, desire, advice, suggestion, option, alternative, recommendation, demand, requirement, necessity, imperative, condition, mandate, specification, rule, ruling, edict, instruction, principle, prerequisite, order, qualification, ultimatum, vote, motion.
The following main-clause adjectives, when following a stative verb such as "to be" or "to appear", and when expressing a desire specified in a subordinate "that" clause, often lead to the subordinate-clause verb taking the subjunctive mood: preferable, optional, permissible, acceptable, okay, all right, satisfactory, desirable, advisable, sufficient, necessary, imperative, mandatory, important, urgent, vital, crucial, essential, fitting, right, appropriate, better, expedient, legitimate.
The traditional English text of the Aaronic blessing is cast entirely in the subjunctive, with jussive force:
While such constructions are sometimes viewed as third-person imperatives rather than subjunctives, they are similar to subjunctive "may" constructions such as May God bless you, May God shed His grace on thee, and May God save the Queen.
The past subjunctive is used after the verb to wish to express that the wished-for event would occur at the same time as the wish: I wish (now) that he were here (now); I wished (in the past) that he were here (at that time in the past). With this use of the past subjunctive, the time of the wished-for action is conveyed by the tense of the main-clause verb. The subjunctive form of the modal can is could, as in I wish (now) that I could swim (now) (= I wish (now) that I were able to swim (now)) and I wished (in the past) that I could swim (in the past) (=I wished (in the past) that I were able to swim (in the past)).
To express a wish for something to have occurred prior to the time that the wish is made, the past subjunctive is used: I wish (now) that he had been here (at a time in the past); I wished (at a time in the past) that he had been here (prior to that time in the past).
To express a present or past wish for a later occurrence, one uses the subjunctive form would of the future modal will: I wish (now) that he would come here (in the future); I wished (in the past) that he would come here (at a time after the wish was made, either before or after the present).
The main-clause verb wish expresses a counterfactual — something that is not actually the case — while by comparison the main-clause verb hope expresses something that has a possibility of being true. Therefore, while wish governs the use of the subjunctive in the subordinate clause, hope governs the use of the indicative. For example:
. For example:
In the same vein, the past subjunctive is used following the conjunctions as if and as though to express a contrary-to-fact situation that reality is supposed to resemble:
The pluperfect subjunctive is used after the conjunction if, and after the conjunction "that" when the main-clause verb is "suppose", in a past-time contrary-to-fact and contrary-to-possibility protasis. For example:
The conjunction in order that, indicating a positive purpose, also sometimes introduces a subjunctive clause, though it more commonly introduces a clause using the auxiliary verb may (or in the subjunctive, might):
The present subjunctive sometimes is used after other conjunctions to express doubt or supposition, although nowadays the indicative oftener replaces this usage.
Rarely, the past subjunctive is used after other conjunctions to express doubt or supposition:
, relics from an older form of the language where it was much more common. Some could be alternatively analyzed as the imperative mood
, but those have related forms involving the insertion of "may" (e.g., "May God bless you") that are clearly subjunctive. Common examples are:
However, many fossil phrases seemingly employing the subjunctive often are re-analysed as imperative forms rather than as the subjunctive.
In the hypercorrection
example quoted, "if" is a substitute for the unambiguous word "whether" (as in "Johnny asked me whether I was afraid"); in this case, "if" lacks the usual "in the event that" meaning that it has in other usages (as in "If we go to bed now, we shall be up at three o'clock"). In fact, such usage is quite old; for example:
While these examples employ the present-reference subjunctive inflection am / is → was, they do not employ the further subjunctive inflection was → were.
However, in the context of the examples above, inversion cannot occur with the indicative as it would with the subjunctive; the following are ungrammatical, except insofar as they could be misinterpreted as questions:
This reduction of usage is not uniform; compare
with
The present-reference subjunctive inflection was → were is not uniformly used in all varieties of spoken English. However, it still occurs in spoken North American English
and in many dialects of British English
. Some dialects replace it with was or with a modal verb, except perhaps in the most formal literary discourse. According to the Random House College Dictionary, "Although the [were] subjunctive seems to be disappearing from the speech of many, its proper use is still a mark of the educated speaker."
In addition, the pluperfect subjunctive form in if I had gone, indicating a counterfactual placed in the past, is often replaced in informal speech by the indicative past form in if I went; the counterfactual meaning is still clear because the main clause will contain the conditional modal verb phrase would have (If I went, I would have seen him), while would have would not appear if the meaning was possibility rather than counterfactuality (If I went, I saw him). Another alternative form to the pluperfect subjunctive that is encountered in informal speech uses would have in both the counterfactual dependent clause and the resultive clause, as in If I would have gone, I would have seen him.
English grammar
English grammar is the body of rules that describe the structure of expressions in the English language. This includes the structure of words, phrases, clauses and sentences...
, the English subjunctive is the English manifestation of the subjunctive mood
Subjunctive mood
In grammar, the subjunctive mood is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express various states of irreality such as wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred....
, a verb
Verb
A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word that in syntax conveys an action , or a state of being . In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive...
mood
Grammatical mood
In linguistics, grammatical mood is a grammatical feature of verbs, used to signal modality. That is, it is the use of verbal inflections that allow speakers to express their attitude toward what they are saying...
typically used in dependent clause
Dependent clause
In linguistics, a dependent clause is a clause that augments an independent clause with additional information, but which cannot stand alone as a sentence. Dependent clauses modify the independent clause of a sentence or serve as a component of it...
s to express a wish, an emotion, a possibility, a judgement, an opinion, a necessity, or an action that is unlikely to occur or did not occur. It sometimes is referred to as the conjunctive mood, as it usually follows a subordinate conjunction
Grammatical conjunction
In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together. A discourse connective is a conjunction joining sentences. This definition may overlap with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a "conjunction" must be defined for each...
.
Summary of forms
The subjunctive in Modern EnglishModern English
Modern English is the form of the English language spoken since the Great Vowel Shift in England, completed in roughly 1550.Despite some differences in vocabulary, texts from the early 17th century, such as the works of William Shakespeare and the King James Bible, are considered to be in Modern...
occurs in a variety of contexts in which the form of the verb used is different from what it normally would be, given the implied time of the action. Regardless of the subject, the form of the present subjunctive verb used to express present or past desires and the like in that clauses is the bare form of the infinitive (not preceded by "to"). Hence, the present subjunctive of "to go" is "I go", "you go", "he/she/it go", "we go", "they go". For instance: "It was required that he go to the back of the line" (compared with the indicative "Everyone knows that he went to the back of the line"); "It is required that he go to the back of the line" (compared with the indicative "Everyone knows that he goes to the back of the line").
The English subjunctive also occurs in counterfactual dependent clauses, using a form of the verb that in the indicative would indicate a time of action prior to the one implied by the subjunctive. It is called the past subjunctive when referring counterfactually to the present, and is called the pluperfect subjunctive when referring counterfactually to the past. It occurs in that clauses following the main-clause verb "wish" ("I wish that she were here now"; I wish that she had been here yesterday") and in if clauses expressing a condition that does not or did not hold ("If she were here right now, ..."; "If she had been here yesterday, ...").
A form of the subjunctive, called the future subjunctive, is used in if clauses of doubtful possibility with future reference; regardless of person and number, it uses the form "if I were to go".
Table of forms
The terms "present subjunctive" and "past subjunctive", such as appear in the following table, refer to the form and not to the time of action expressed. (Not shown in the table is the pluperfect subjunctive, which uses the had plus past participle construction when the counterfactual time of action is the past.)| Present indicative | Present subjunctive | Past indicative | Past subjunctive | Future indicative | Future subjunctive | Present negative indicative | Present negative subjunctive | |
| to own (example regular verb) |
I own he/she/it owns we/you/they own |
that I own that he/she/it own that we/you/they own |
I owned he/she/it owned we/you/they owned |
if I owned if he/she/it owned if we/you/they owned |
I shall own he/she/it will own we shall own you/they will own |
if I were to own if he/she/it were to own if we/you/they were to own |
I do not own he/she/it does not own we/you/they do not own |
that I not own that he/she/it not own that we/you/they not own |
| to be | I am he/she/it is we/you/they are |
that I be that he/she/it be that we/you/they be |
I was he/she/it was we/you/they were |
if I were if he/she/it were if we/you/they were |
I shall be he/she/it will be we shall be you/they will be |
if I were to be if he/she/it were to be if we/you/they were to be |
I am not he/she/it is not we/you/they are not |
that I not be that he/she/it not be that we/you/they not be |
| Time of action | present or future | past, present or future | past | present | future | future | present or future | past, present or future |
| Usage | desire in that clauses; lest clauses | counterfactuality in if clauses or in that clauses after wish | doubtful possibility in if clauses | desire in that clauses; "lest" clauses |
As shown in the above table, the form of the subjunctive is distinguishable from the indicative in five circumstances:
- in the third person singular of any verb in the present form;
- in all instances of the verb "be" in the present form;
- in the first and third persons singular of the verb "be" in the past form;
- in all instances of all verbs in the future form; and
- in all instances of all verbs in the present negative form.
However, even when the subjunctive and indicative forms are identical, their time references are usually different.
The verb "be" is distinctive, having a larger number of forms than other verbs, because its forms in Modern English derive from three different stems
Suppletion
In linguistics and etymology, suppletion is traditionally understood as the use of one word as the inflected form of another word when the two words are not cognate. For those learning a language, suppletive forms will be seen as "irregular" or even "highly irregular". The term "suppletion" implies...
in Old English: beon (be, being, been), wesan (was, is), and waeron (am, art, are, were).
Some modal auxiliaries
English modal auxiliary verb
In the English language, a modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb. The key way to identify a modal verb is by its defectiveness...
have a past subjunctive form. For example, the indicative will as in He will come tomorrow has the subjunctive form would as in I wish that he would come tomorrow. Likewise, the indicative can as in He can do it now has the subjunctive form could as in I wish that he could do it now. And the indicative shall as in I shall go there has the subjunctive form should as in If I should go there,...."
In Early Modern English
Early Modern English
Early Modern English is the stage of the English language used from about the end of the Middle English period to 1650. Thus, the first edition of the King James Bible and the works of William Shakespeare both belong to the late phase of Early Modern English...
, the past subjunctive was distinguishable from the past indicative not only in the verb to be (as in Modern English), but also in the informal second-person singular of all verbs. For example: indicative thou sattest, but subjunctive thou sat.
Nevertheless, in some texts in which the pronoun thou
Thou
The word thou is a second person singular pronoun in English. It is now largely archaic, having been replaced in almost all contexts by you. It is used in parts of Northern England and by Scots. Thou is the nominative form; the oblique/objective form is thee , and the possessive is thy or thine...
is used, a final -est or -st sometimes is added; for example, thou beest appears frequently in the work of Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
and some of his contemporaries.
Present subjunctive
The term present subjunctive can be misunderstood, as it describes a form rather than a meaning. The present subjunctive is so named because it resembles the present indicative in form, but the difference between them is a difference in modalityLinguistic modality
In linguistics, modality is what allows speakers to evaluate a proposition relative to a set of other propositions.In standard formal approaches to modality, an utterance expressing modality can always roughly be paraphrased to fit the following template:...
, not in temporality. For example, in I asked that it be done yesterday, be done (a present subjunctive) has no present-tense sense, but instead refers to the past.
The present subjunctive is used in that clauses expressing desire, demand, and related emotions, as in I insist that he be here or I prefer that she go to work now. It also appears in the relatively uncommon lest clauses, as in I am running faster lest she catch me, in which lest means "so that the event in the dependent clause won't happen", and in I worried lest she catch me, in which lest indicates an adverse event that might happen.
While the above examples had both the main-clause event and the subordinate clause event in the present/future, the present subjunctive can also be used when both events are in the past. For example, in I insisted that he be here, both the demand and the demanded event are placed in the past, and in I was running faster lest she catch me, both the main-clause event and the event to be avoided are placed in the past. Thus the time frame of both events is dictated by the tense of the main-clause verb.
Past subjunctive
Like the term present subjunctive, past subjunctive can be misunderstood, as it describes a form rather than a meaning. The past subjunctive is so named because it resembles the past indicative in form, but the difference between them is a difference in modalityLinguistic modality
In linguistics, modality is what allows speakers to evaluate a proposition relative to a set of other propositions.In standard formal approaches to modality, an utterance expressing modality can always roughly be paraphrased to fit the following template:...
, not in temporality. For example, in If that were true, I would know it, the word were (a past subjunctive) has no past-tense sense and instead describes a counterfactual
Counterfactual conditional
A counterfactual conditional, subjunctive conditional, or remote conditional, abbreviated , is a conditional statement indicating what would be the case if its antecedent were true...
condition in the present.
In addition to appearing in counterfactual if clauses (If I were there, he would know it), the past subjunctive form also appears in that clauses expressing a wish that is unlikely to be fulfilled. Usually the main-clause verb in this circumstance is wish, as in I wish that he were here now; but occasionally some other expression implying an unlikely wish is seen, as in It is high time (that) he bought a new car or I would rather that he did that. (The latter example can also be recast in the present subjunctive, expressing doubt but not as much doubt as the past subjunctive: I would rather that he do that).
In contrast, hoped-for things that may possibly occur take the indicative. In this circumstance, often the main clause verb is hope, as in I hope that he comes now. Likewise, in It is high time (that) he buys a new car, there is a real possibility that he will indeed do so.
Distinguishing past subjunctive with present meaning from past indicative with past meaning
In subordinate "if" clauses, the past subjunctive with present meaning can be distinguished from the past indicative with past meaning based on whether the verb in the main clause takes the conditional would form or not, and based on whether the tense forms (past or present form) in the two clauses are the same or different. For example:
Pluperfect subjunctive
Since the "past subjunctive" is not a true past tense (it does not express past time of occurrence), it uses as its past tense what is structurally its perfect form. This past tense is known as the past perfect subjunctive or pluperfect subjunctive; it is formed using had (the past subjunctive of to have) plus the verb's past participle
Participle
In linguistics, a participle is a word that shares some characteristics of both verbs and adjectives. It can be used in compound verb tenses or voices , or as a modifier...
.
The pluperfect subjunctive is used like the past subjunctive, except that it expresses a past-tense sense. For example:
- Had I known (yesterday), I would have done something about it. (Or:
When used in such counterfactual
Counterfactual conditional
A counterfactual conditional, subjunctive conditional, or remote conditional, abbreviated , is a conditional statement indicating what would be the case if its antecedent were true...
sentences with "if", this form often is called the "past conditional
Conditional sentence
In grammar, conditional sentences are sentences discussing factual implications or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Languages use a variety of conditional constructions and verb forms to form such sentences....
" or "conditional 3" in modern textbooks, though some grammarians reserve these terms for the form with "would" in the independent clause of the sentence. The main clause coinciding with a counterfactual if clause takes the conditional perfect
Conditional perfect
In linguistics, the conditional perfect is the composed form of the conditional mood. It refers to a hypothetical action in the past, contingent on something else that did not occur in the past...
would have + past participle form for its verb if the resultant action or state occurred in the speaker's past (as in the first two examples above), but uses the present form of the conditional
Conditional mood
In linguistics, the conditional mood is the inflectional form of the verb used in the independent clause of a conditional sentence to refer to a hypothetical state of affairs, or an uncertain event, that is contingent on another set of circumstances...
, would + bare form of infinitive, if the resultant action or state is in the present (as in the third example above).
If a main clause is in the past tense, then a clause subordinate to it cannot be in the past subjunctive; instead, the subjunctive form must be the pluperfect subjunctive. However, if the main clause is in the present tense, then a clause subordinate to it might be in either of the two, depending on the meaning: for example, insistence or necessity uses the present subjunctive form as in "I insist that he go now", while a counterfactual wish takes the past subjunctive form, as in "I wish that he were leaving now."
The pluperfect subjunctive often is replaced with the past subjunctive, the past indicative, or the conditional perfect in colloquial speech, a substitution that commonly is considered incorrect. (See prescription and description.)
In situations in which the present is influenced by the past, the present perfect subjunctive — that he have done — often is used in descriptions of requirements. For example, the following sentence declares two years of Spanish to be an important requirement for continuation:
- It is important that he have completed two years of Spanish before graduation.
Note the contrast between the previous sentence with a subjunctive usage connoting necessity with the following sentence, which expresses a fact rather than a desire and thus uses the present perfect indicative:
- It is important that he has completed two years of Spanish before graduation.
Future subjunctive
The future subjunctive is constructed using the past subjunctive form of the verb "to be" plus the to-infinitive of the dependent clause verb whose action is doubtful, or by using the modal auxiliary verbEnglish modal auxiliary verb
In the English language, a modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb. The key way to identify a modal verb is by its defectiveness...
"should" followed by the bare infinitive. Note that the "were" clauses are followed by the present conditional
Conditional mood
In linguistics, the conditional mood is the inflectional form of the verb used in the independent clause of a conditional sentence to refer to a hypothetical state of affairs, or an uncertain event, that is contingent on another set of circumstances...
("would"), while the "should" clauses are followed by the future indicative
Future tense
In grammar, a future tense is a verb form that marks the event described by the verb as not having happened yet, but expected to happen in the future , or to happen subsequent to some other event, whether that is past, present, or future .-Expressions of future tense:The concept of the future,...
("will"), because the "were" clauses express more doubt. For example:
- Were I to die tomorrow, then you would inherit everything.
- If you were to give the money to me, then I would say no more about it.
- If I should go, then will you feed the hens? [or If I/he go...]
- If he should fall, who will carry the flag in his place? [or If he fall...]
The "should" form is seldom used in American English; instead the indicative form If I go,... is usually used.
In contrast to the were to go subjunctive form for future reference, English has an am / is / are to go form for the indicative scheduled future. For example, I am to go there tomorrow indicates something that is scheduled, and therefore very probable, whereas If I were to go there tomorrow, I would ..." indicates that there is substantial doubt about whether I will go.
Construction by inversion
Where the subjunctive is used after "if" in a counterfactual condition (see below), the same effect can be achieved by omitting the "if" and inverting the verb and subject positions.- If I were the President now,... / Were I the President now,...
- If he had known it then,... / Had he known it then,...
- If that be the case now,... / Be that the case now,...
- If I were to arrive on time tomorrow,... / Were I to arrive on time tomorrow,...
- If I should arrive on time tomorrow,... / Should I arrive on time tomorrow,...
To express a command, request, or suggestion
Content clauseContent clause
In grammar, a content clause is a subordinate clause that provides content implied by, or commented upon by, its main clause. The term was coined by Otto Jespersen...
s expressing commands, requests, or suggestions commonly use the present subjunctive in US English, but this usage is now rare in speech and rare in writing in UK English. Such clauses may be introduced by a verb like propose, suggest, recommend, move (in the parliamentary sense), demand, or mandate, by an adjective like imperative, important, adamant, or necessary, or by a noun like insistence or proposal.
This use of the subjunctive is known as the mandative subjunctive or the jussive subjunctive and is said to be the commonest use of the subjunctive in English.
Note that the present subjunctive is used in these cases regardless of the actual time reference (which must be conveyed by the tense of the main verb):
- I move(d) that the bill be put to a vote.
- I ask(ed) that he be shown mercy.
- It is (or was) necessary that we not forget our instructions. / It is (or was) necessary lest we forget our instructions.
- Her insistence that he leave seems (or seemed) rude.
Some of these words have two senses in different contexts: one that introduces a clause in the indicative, and one that introduces a clause in the subjunctive. For example, insist can mean assert forcefully and persistently as a statement of fact, in which case it introduces the indicative (He insisted that he was found not guilty of the charges; I insist that he is there), or it can mean demand forcefully and persistently, in which case it introduces the subjunctive (He insisted that he be found not guilty of the charges; I insist that he be there). This use of the subjunctive is typically found in North American English. The verb in such constructions sometimes is believed mistakenly to be a sort of infinitive, contributing to the notion of the dying subjunctive.
Main-clause preference words governing the subordinate-clause subjunctive
The following main-clause verbs, when expressing a desire specified in a subordinate "that" clause, often lead to the subordinate-clause verb taking the subjunctive mood: prefer, propose, request, ask, desire, advise, suggest, recommend, urge, specify, instruct, order, demand, insist, require, mandate, rule, necessitate, suffice, advocate, vote, move, would rather.- For example: I prefer that he leave.
The following main-clause nouns, when expressing a desire specified in a subordinate "that" clause, often lead to the subordinate-clause verb taking the subjunctive mood: preference, proposal, request, desire, advice, suggestion, option, alternative, recommendation, demand, requirement, necessity, imperative, condition, mandate, specification, rule, ruling, edict, instruction, principle, prerequisite, order, qualification, ultimatum, vote, motion.
- For example:
The following main-clause adjectives, when following a stative verb such as "to be" or "to appear", and when expressing a desire specified in a subordinate "that" clause, often lead to the subordinate-clause verb taking the subjunctive mood: preferable, optional, permissible, acceptable, okay, all right, satisfactory, desirable, advisable, sufficient, necessary, imperative, mandatory, important, urgent, vital, crucial, essential, fitting, right, appropriate, better, expedient, legitimate.
- For example:
Third person requests with a main-clause subjunctive
Sometimes the verb of a main clause can be in the subjunctive mood, without any explicit word like the above; this carries the force of a third-person request. This is the usage found in many set expressions, such as God bless you.- America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood ("America the BeautifulAmerica the Beautiful"America the Beautiful" is an American patriotic song. The lyrics were written by Katharine Lee Bates and the music composed by church organist and choirmaster Samuel A. Ward....
") - God save our gracious Queen
The traditional English text of the Aaronic blessing is cast entirely in the subjunctive, with jussive force:
- The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.
While such constructions are sometimes viewed as third-person imperatives rather than subjunctives, they are similar to subjunctive "may" constructions such as May God bless you, May God shed His grace on thee, and May God save the Queen.
To express a wish
The subjunctive is known as the "volitional" subjunctive when it is used to express a wish. A wish for a past or present event is contrary to fact, while a wish for the future either is impossible or has a very low probability.The past subjunctive is used after the verb to wish to express that the wished-for event would occur at the same time as the wish: I wish (now) that he were here (now); I wished (in the past) that he were here (at that time in the past). With this use of the past subjunctive, the time of the wished-for action is conveyed by the tense of the main-clause verb. The subjunctive form of the modal can is could, as in I wish (now) that I could swim (now) (= I wish (now) that I were able to swim (now)) and I wished (in the past) that I could swim (in the past) (=I wished (in the past) that I were able to swim (in the past)).
To express a wish for something to have occurred prior to the time that the wish is made, the past subjunctive is used: I wish (now) that he had been here (at a time in the past); I wished (at a time in the past) that he had been here (prior to that time in the past).
To express a present or past wish for a later occurrence, one uses the subjunctive form would of the future modal will: I wish (now) that he would come here (in the future); I wished (in the past) that he would come here (at a time after the wish was made, either before or after the present).
The main-clause verb wish expresses a counterfactual — something that is not actually the case — while by comparison the main-clause verb hope expresses something that has a possibility of being true. Therefore, while wish governs the use of the subjunctive in the subordinate clause, hope governs the use of the indicative. For example:
- I wish that he were there (right now). (But he is not.)
- I hope that he is there (right now). (Maybe he is.)
To express a counterfactual hypothesis
The past subjunctive is used after the conjunction if, and after the conjunction "that" when the main-clause verb is "suppose", in a present-time contrary-to-fact and contrary-to-possibility protasisProtasis (linguistics)
In linguistics, a protasis is the subordinate clause in a conditional sentence. For example, in "if X, then Y", the protasis is "if X"...
. For example:
- If I were a millionaire, I would buy a sports car.
- If he had a car with him, he could drive us there.
- If I were a rich man...If I Were a Rich Man (song)"If I Were a Rich Man" is a song from the 1964 musical Fiddler on the Roof. It was written by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock. The song is performed by Tevye, the main character in the musical, and reflects his dreams of glory....
- Suppose that I were there now.
In the same vein, the past subjunctive is used following the conjunctions as if and as though to express a contrary-to-fact situation that reality is supposed to resemble:
- She looks as though she were going to kill him.
- He is trying to explain it — as if he knew anything about the subject!
The pluperfect subjunctive is used after the conjunction if, and after the conjunction "that" when the main-clause verb is "suppose", in a past-time contrary-to-fact and contrary-to-possibility protasis. For example:
- If I had been a millionaire, I would have bought a sports car.
- If he had had a car with him, he could have driven us there.
- Suppose that I had been there last week.
To express a purpose
The conjunction lest, indicating a negative purpose, generally introduces a subjunctive clause:- I eat lest I die.
- I shall place the book back on the shelf, lest it be lost.
The conjunction in order that, indicating a positive purpose, also sometimes introduces a subjunctive clause, though it more commonly introduces a clause using the auxiliary verb may (or in the subjunctive, might):
- I am putting your dinner in the oven in order that it (may) keep warm.
- He wrote it in his diary in order that he (might) remember.
To express a doubt or supposition
The future subjunctive is used to express hypothetical future situations that are possible but doubtful :- I am torn; if I were to go with choice A, I would be better off in the short term, but if I were to go with choice B, I might be better off in the long term.
- Suppose that I were to go there.
The present subjunctive sometimes is used after other conjunctions to express doubt or supposition, although nowadays the indicative oftener replaces this usage.
- I will not let thee go, except [=unless] thou bless me. (Genesis 32:26)
- Murder, though it have no tongue, will speak.
- Whoever he be, he shall not go unpunished.
- Fee, fie, fo, fum / I smell the blood of an Englishman; / Be he alive or be he dead, / I'll grind his bones to make my bread. (Jack and the BeanstalkJack and the BeanstalkJack and the Beanstalk is a folktale said by English historian Francis Palgrave to be an oral legend that arrived in England with the Vikings. The tale is closely associated with the tale of Jack the Giant-killer. It is known under a number of versions...
) - If I be found guilty, I shall be given the maximum punishment.
- I shall not do it unless [or until] I be told to do it.
- Whether he vote for this or not (If he vote for it or if he not vote for it), we must proceed with the plan.
- (No matter) whether they be tall or short, they must be treated the same.
- I want you to give this money to him so that he have enough for lunch. (the conjunction "so that" takes a subjunctive in formal English)
Rarely, the past subjunctive is used after other conjunctions to express doubt or supposition:
- But [=although] he were dead, yet shall he live. (New Testament)
Set phrases
The subjunctive is used in a number of fixed phrasesSet phrase
A set phrase or fixed phrase is a phrase whose parts are fixed, even if the phrase could be changed without harming the literal meaning. This is because a set phrase is a culturally accepted phrase. A set phrase does not necessarily have any literal meaning in and of itself. Set phrases may...
, relics from an older form of the language where it was much more common. Some could be alternatively analyzed as the imperative mood
Imperative mood
The imperative mood expresses commands or requests as a grammatical mood. These commands or requests urge the audience to act a certain way. It also may signal a prohibition, permission, or any other kind of exhortation.- Morphology :...
, but those have related forms involving the insertion of "may" (e.g., "May God bless you") that are clearly subjunctive. Common examples are:
- if need be
- as it were
- if I were you; were I you
- be that as it may
- (God) bless you!
- come Monday (Tuesday, etc.)
- come what may
- far be it from (or for) me
- until death do us part
- God save our gracious QueenGod Save the Queen"God Save the Queen" is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms and British Crown Dependencies. The words of the song, like its title, are adapted to the gender of the current monarch, with "King" replacing "Queen", "he" replacing "she", and so forth, when a king reigns...
, God bless AmericaGod Bless America"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song ....
, God keep our land glorious and freeO CanadaIt has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
, God rest ye merry gentlemen, etc. - Heaven forbid
- so be it
- suffice it to say
- woe betide
- peace be with you
- long live the king
- the powers that be
- albeit (a synthesis of all be it, i.e. although it be)
- truth be told
- would that it were
- be it ever so humble, there's no place like home (proverb)
However, many fossil phrases seemingly employing the subjunctive often are re-analysed as imperative forms rather than as the subjunctive.
Hyperusage
The subjunctive sometimes has been used simply as a conditioned variant that follows "if" and similar words even in the absence of a hypothetical situation.- Johnny asked me if I were afraid. (Barbara in Night of the Living DeadNight of the Living DeadNight of the Living Dead is a 1968 American independent black-and-white zombie film and cult film directed by George A. Romero, starring Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea and Karl Hardman. It premiered on October 1, 1968, and was completed on a USD$114,000 budget. After decades of cinematic re-releases, it...
(1968))
In the hypercorrection
Hypercorrection
In linguistics or usage, hypercorrection is a non-standard usage that results from the over-application of a perceived rule of grammar or a usage prescription...
example quoted, "if" is a substitute for the unambiguous word "whether" (as in "Johnny asked me whether I was afraid"); in this case, "if" lacks the usual "in the event that" meaning that it has in other usages (as in "If we go to bed now, we shall be up at three o'clock"). In fact, such usage is quite old; for example:
- ... he asked me if I were about to return to London ... (Mary ShelleyMary ShelleyMary Shelley was a British novelist, short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer, and travel writer, best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus . She also edited and promoted the works of her husband, the Romantic poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley...
The Last ManThe Last ManThe Last Man is an apocalyptic science fiction novel by Mary Shelley, which was first published in 1826. The book tells of a future world that has been ravaged by a plague. The novel was harshly reviewed at the time, and was virtually unknown until a scholarly revival beginning in the 1960s...
(1833)) - He asked me if I were a Priest. (The Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine Vol. 3, Dec. (1824))
Reduction in the usage of the subjunctive
In some dialects of English, the were subjunctive has taken the form was in the first and third persons singular, where was is used by the past tense of the indicative, although some consider this replacement erroneous in formal speech and writing. The similarity of the counterfactual subjunctive were for present reference and the indicative form was / were (depending on person/number) for past reference has led to the former being replaced in some cases by the form of the latter, as in these examples:- If I was President...
- If he was a ghost...
- If I was a rich girl...
While these examples employ the present-reference subjunctive inflection am / is → was, they do not employ the further subjunctive inflection was → were.
However, in the context of the examples above, inversion cannot occur with the indicative as it would with the subjunctive; the following are ungrammatical, except insofar as they could be misinterpreted as questions:
- Was I the President...
- Was he a ghost...
This reduction of usage is not uniform; compare
- If I WasIf I Was"If I Was" is a popular song written by Midge Ure and Danny Mitchell. It reached #1 on the UK singles chart for a single week in October 1985. This was Ure's third number one, coming after his success with Slik in 1976 and Band Aid in 1984...
, a song written by Midge UreMidge UreJames "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
and Danny Mitchell - And If I Was To Die In The Morning… Would I Still Be Sleeping With YouAnd If I Was To Die In The Morning… Would I Still Be Sleeping With YouAnd If I Was To Die In The Morning… Would I Still Be Sleeping With You is the first EP from the Canadian emo/alternative rock band, Your Favorite Enemies...
, an EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
from the Canadian Your Favorite EnemiesYour Favorite EnemiesYour Favorite Enemies is an Alternative rock/Progressive rock/Indie rock band formed in 2006 by Alex Foster , Jeff Beaulieu , Sef , Ben Lemelin , Miss Isabel and Charles “Moose” Allicy .... - If I Was Your ManIf I Was Your Man"If I Was Your Man" is the second single from Joe from his album Ain't Nothin' Like Me. It was produced by Stargate. It peaked at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100. A music video was released for the song, featuring a cameo appearance by Blair Underwood. The music video was inspired by the ending scene...
, a song from JoeJoe (singer)Joseph Lewis Thomas , usually credited simply as Joe, is an American R&B singer and record producer.-Early life:Joe is a native of Cuthbert, Georgia and later moved to Opelika, Alabama. The son of two preachers, Joe spent much time in church singing, playing guitar, and even directing the choir... - If I Was a RiverIf I Was a River"If I Was a River" is a song written by Diane Warren for Tina Arena's album In Deep .The single was a commercial failure in the UK, only peaked at #43, while the other single “I Want to Spend My Lifetime Loving You” was a French success, this made Tina starting to record French songs, her first...
, a song written by Diane WarrenDiane WarrenDiane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001... - If I Was You (OMG)If I Was You (OMG)"If I Was You " is a song by Asian-American hip hop group Far East Movement. The song features rapper Snoop Dogg and was produced by the Stereotypes and The Smeezingtons. The original recording appears on the album Free Wired with a total run time of 3:25. It has peaked at number 18 on the New...
, a song by Far East MovementFar east movementFar East Movement is an Asian American electro hop quartet based in Los Angeles. The group formed in 2003 and consists of Kev Nish , Prohgress , J-Splif , and DJ Virman... - If I Was Your GirlfriendIf I Was Your Girlfriend"If I Was Your Girlfriend" was the second single off Prince's widely-acclaimed 1987 double album Sign “☮” the Times. While it is today considered one of his most notable songs, at the time of its release the song did not chart well in the U.S....
, a song by PrincePrincePrince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess... - I wish I was in the land of cotton, opening line of song Dixie
with
- If I Were a Carpenter, a song written by Tim HardinTim HardinJames Timothy "Tim" Hardin was an American folk musician and composer. He wrote the Top 40 hits "If I Were a Carpenter", covered by, among others, Joan Baez, Bobby Darin, Johnny Cash, Ramblin' Jack Elliot, and Robert Plant, and "Reason to Believe", covered by many, including Rod Stewart, as well...
- If I Were a BoyIf I Were a Boy"If I Were a Boy" is a pop song recorded by American R&B singer Beyoncé Knowles. It was composed by Toby Gad and BC Jean. Jean initially recorded her version of the song which was rejected by Jean's record company. Knowles then recorded a new version for her third studio album, I Am... Sasha Fierce...
, a song written by Toby GadToby GadTobias "Toby" Gad is a Los Angeles-based hit producer and songwriter from Germany, perhaps best known for co-writing Fergie's Grammy nominated hit song "Big Girls Don't Cry" as well as co-writing and producing Beyoncé's worldwide #1 hit "If I Were a Boy", and The Veronicas multi-platinum #1...
and BC JeanBC JeanBritney Jean Carlson , known better by her stage name BC Jean, is an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known for writing the song "If I Were a Boy" for R&B singer Beyoncé, which premiered on music industry website "Crazed Hits" in May 2008, several months prior to Beyoncé getting a hold...
and recorded by singer Beyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé KnowlesBeyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
in 2008. - If I Were Your Woman (song)If I Were Your Woman (song)"If I Were Your Woman" is a song recorded Gladys Knight & the Pips. The song was written by Pam Sawyer, Clay McMurray, and Gloria Jones and it was produced by McMurray. Released in late 1970 from the album of the same title, it spent one week at number-one on the Best Selling Soul Singles chart in...
, a song recorded Gladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight... - If I Were YouIf I Were You (Hoobastank song)"If I Were You" is the first single released from Hoobastank's third studio album, Every Man for Himself. The song reached number 27 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and 23 on the Modern Rock chart. The song received mostly positive reviews from critics.-Chart performance:...
, a song by HoobastankHoobastankHoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They... - If I were YouIf I Were You (Terri Clark song)"If I Were You" is the title of a song written and recorded by Canadian country music artist Terri Clark. It was released in February 1996 as the third single from her album Terri Clark. The song reached #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in June 1996....
, a song written and recorded by Terri ClarkTerri ClarkTerri Lynn Sauson , known professionally as Terri Clark, is a Canadian country music artist who has had success in both Canada and the United States. Signed to Mercury Records in 1995, she released her self-titled debut that year... - If I Were Your GirlIf I Were Your Girl"If I Were Your Girl" is a ballad that was supposed to be the 4th single from Paula Abdul's album, Head Over Heels. It was written by Crystal Bernard and Rhett Lawrence.The song was included on both of Paula's greatest hits albums.-Promo CD:...
, a song from Paula AbdulPaula AbdulPaula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
The present-reference subjunctive inflection was → were is not uniformly used in all varieties of spoken English. However, it still occurs in spoken North American English
North American English
North American English is the variety of the English language of North America, including that of the United States and Canada. Because of their shared histories and the similarities between the pronunciation, vocabulary and accent of American English and Canadian English, the two spoken languages...
and in many dialects of British English
British English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
. Some dialects replace it with was or with a modal verb, except perhaps in the most formal literary discourse. According to the Random House College Dictionary, "Although the [were] subjunctive seems to be disappearing from the speech of many, its proper use is still a mark of the educated speaker."
In addition, the pluperfect subjunctive form in if I had gone, indicating a counterfactual placed in the past, is often replaced in informal speech by the indicative past form in if I went; the counterfactual meaning is still clear because the main clause will contain the conditional modal verb phrase would have (If I went, I would have seen him), while would have would not appear if the meaning was possibility rather than counterfactuality (If I went, I saw him). Another alternative form to the pluperfect subjunctive that is encountered in informal speech uses would have in both the counterfactual dependent clause and the resultive clause, as in If I would have gone, I would have seen him.
External links
- Subjunctive in English Englishpage.com's guide to the subjunctive
- The English subjunctive: scholarly opinions