SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

Subjunctive Mood
refers to verbs that are used to describe hypothetical
or non – real actions, events, or situations.

It is most commonly used to express:

1. WISHES
2. HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS DEPENDING ON
CERTAIN CONDITIONS
3. COMMANDS, SUGGESTIONS, REQUESTS,
STATEMENTS OF NECESSITY
 3

WISHES
When we wish for something to be true, we conjugate the verb
one degree into the past to create the subjunctive mood. For
example:
Indicative mood / fact / situation : It’s Monday. I have to go to
work.
Subjunctive mood: I wish it weren’t Monday. I wish I didn’t have
to go to work.
 4

Notice that the verb be always conjugates to were in the subjunctive

mood, regardless of the subjects.

Be is the only verb that conjugates irregularly to reflect the

subjunctive mood for wishes and desires. For all other verbs, we
simply move them back one tense in the past as normal.
 5

Present tense wishes

✔ Indicative mood / fact / situation : It is raining outside. (present cont
tense)
Subjunctive mood: I wish it weren’t raining. (past cont tense)

✔ Indicative mood / fact / situation : He has lived in NYC his whole life.
(present perfect tense)
Subjunctive mood: He wishes he had lived somewhere else at some
point. (past perfect tense)
 6

Present tense wishes

✔ Indicative mood / fact / situation : My assistant has been organizing
the filing cabinet. (present perfect continuous tense)
Subjunctive mood: I wish he had been working on something else.
(past perfect cont tense)
 7

Past tense wishes

✔ Indicative mood / fact / situation : I’ll miss my appointment because I
left the house late. (past simple tense)
Subjunctive mood: I wish I had left the house earlier. (past perfect
tense)

✔ Indicative mood / fact / situation : He had started smoking again.

(past perfect tense)
Subjunctive mood: They all wished he hadn’t started smoking again.
(past perfect tense)
 8

A quick reference to remember how each tense moves

back in the past
▪ Present simple tense >> past simple tense
▪ Present continuous tense >> past continuous tense
▪ Present perfect tense >> past perfect tense
▪ Present perfect continuous tense >> past perfect continuous tense
▪ Past simple tense >> past perfect tense
▪ Past continuous tense >> past perfect continuous tense
▪ Past perfect tense >> past perfect tense (no further shift possible)
▪ Past perfect continuous tense >> past perfect continuous tense (no
further shift possible)
 Wishes about others’ behavior
9

When we talk about someone’s continued behavior that we wish

were different, we either use would + the desired verb, or simply
the past tense of the verb.
For example:
Your son is always leaving his clothes lying around the bedroom
floor.
• I wish he would pick up his clothes off the floor when I asked
him to.
or
• I wish he picked up his clothes off the floor when I asked him
to.
 10

Wishes about others’ behavior

Your mother always whistles when she is in the
house.
• I wish she wouldn’t whistle in the house like that.
or
• I wish she didn’t whistle in the house like that.
 11

Wishes about others’ behavior

In the examples above, both constructions of the
subjunctive are acceptable, though the would
construction is more conventional.

If we want to imply that we find a certain behavior

annoying, we tend to use the would construction.
 12

If only ...
To express a desire that is more fanciful, unrealistic, or that we consider
to be ideal, we can use if only instead of I wish to add more emphasis to
the desire.
(Note that subjunctive verb still goes back one tense in the past).

For example:
✔ I hate being cold all the time. If only I lived in a hot country.
✔ If only I were rich – I would spend my whole life traveling.
✔ We’re spending two weeks in the French alps next month; if only I
could ski!
 13

HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS
Conditional sentences are used to describe hypothetical scenarios that
require a certain condition or conditions to be met.

There are four degrees of conditionals, all of which vary in structure and
meaning.
 14

ZERO CONDITIONAL
The ZERO CONDITIONAL is used to talk about something that is
generally true.

✔ If you throw a ball in the air, it comes back down. (always true: a ball
will come back down every time you throw it in the air)

Note that the zero conditional always uses simple present tense.
 15

FIRST CONDITIONAL
The FIRST CONDITIONAL is used to describe a probable or intended
result of the condition.

✔ If I see him, I will tell him.

✔ If I win the lottery, I will buy a new house.

Note that the first conditional always uses simple present tense after the
if clause, followed by simple future tense (will + bare infinitive).
 16

SECOND CONDITIONAL
The SECOND CONDITIONAL is used to talk about an imaginary situation
or outcome resulting from the condition. We generally use this to talk
about things that cannot or are less likely to happen.

✔ If you had a phone, you could call me every day.

✔ If I were older, I might stay up all night long.

Note that the second conditional always uses simple past tense after the
if clause, followed by would, could, might + the bare infinitive.
 17

THIRD CONDITIONAL
The THIRD CONDITIONAL is used to establish a hypothetical situation in
the past, followed by a hypothetical outcome that did not really happen
– typically, the outcome is the opposite of what actually happened.

✔ If I had been more prepared, I would have passed the test.

✔ If I hadn’t overslept, I wouldn’t have been late for work.

Note that the third conditional always uses past perfect tense for the if
clause, followed by would/could/should/might have + the past
participle (v3).
 18

COMMANDS, SUGGESTIONS, REQUESTS, AND STATEMENT OF NECESSITY

When we express actions that we demand, suggest or request that
someone else take, or describe something that must be the case, we use
the base form of the verb – that is , the infinitive form without the word
to. For example:

✔ He demanded that they leave the room at once. (command)

✔ I recommend that she study harder next time. (suggestion)
✔ I ask that the audience be completely silent during the demonstration
(request)
✔ It’s necessary that we be vigilant to avoid another disaster. (statement
of necessity)
 19

COMMANDS, SUGGESTIONS, REQUESTS, AND STATEMENT OF NECESSITY

OTHER VERBS USED:
Advise, ask, command, demand, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose,
recommend, request, suggest.

NOUNS USED:
proposal, recommendation, request, suggestion, command, demand, order

ADJECTIVE USED:
advisable, best, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary,
unthinkable, urgent, vital, anxious, determined, eager, keen
 20

Other Examples
TABLE 1
Main Clause (verbs) That clause with subjunctive

He suggests that you be present at the

meeting.

The board recommend that he join the company.

He requested that the car not be locked at night.

park
 21

Other Examples
TABLE 2
Main Clause (noun) That clause with subjunctive

They made a suggestion that we be early.

He made a proposal that the buy more land.

company

The president order that the resign next month.

has issued an secretary
 22

Other Examples
TABLE 3
Main Clause (adjective) That clause with subjunctive

It is advisable that she rest for a week.

It was essential that the army advance rapidly.

After the vital that every soldier not use a radio.

landing, it
will be
 23

Other Examples
TABLE 4
Main Clause (adjective 2) That clause with subjunctive

Tara is anxious that you return soon.

They are keen that he not be hurt.

We were determined that it remain secret.