Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive Mood • indicative mood • imperative mood • subjunctive mood

Two forms of subjunctive mood • BE-subjunctive • WERE-subjunctive

Two forms of subjunctive mood • BE-subjunctive: realized by the base form of a verb • WERE-subjunctive: realized by the verb “were”(past tense form)

Uses of Subjunctive Present: 1. If I were tired, I would have a rest. Past: 1. If he had set out earlier, he would have caught the early bus. Future: 1. If I should have time tomorrow, I would go to the library. 2. If he were to come here this evening, we would invite him to attend the party. 3. If it rained this afternoon, the football match would be postponed until next Saturday.

Uses of Subjunctive • The subjunctive is used in English to express a command, desire, hypothesis, purpose, doubt, or supposition. • Content clauses expressing commands, requests, or suggestions commonly use the present subjunctive.

Uses of Subjunctive • such a clause 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

Uses of Subjunctive • To express a wish • The past subjunctive is used after the verb to wish: I wish he were here or I wished he were there. This use of the subjunctive is sometimes known as the "volitional" subjunctive.

Uses of Subjunctive • To express a hypothesis • The past subjunctive is used after the conjunction if in a contrary-to-fact protasis. 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.

Uses of Subjunctive • By far the most common use of the subjunctive is the use of the subjunctive after "if" clauses that state or describe a hypothetical situation. • If I were a butterfly, I would have wings.

BE-subjunctive • Decide,decree, suggest, move 2. advisable, appropriate, essential, imperative 3. decision, decree, instruction, requirement

BE-subjunctive • It is imperative that the new law be implemented. If the rumor be true, everything is possible. If the rumor were true, everything would be possible. If the rumor should be true, everything is possible

Were-subjunctive • If I were in school again, I would wok harder. • Were I in school again, I would work harder. If I were rich, I would build up a large house for poor people.

Were-subjunctive • simple past • if …should • if …were to

Inverted conditional clause • Were… Were you in my position, you would do the same. • Had… Had I time, I would come. • Should…

Subjunctive in set phrases • It is (high, about) time (that)… • I would rather / sooner (that)… • If only… • …as if / as though… • I wish (that)…

Exercises • He left orders that nothing ____ touched until the police arrived here. • should be B. ought to be C. must be • D. would be • 2. I was to have made a speech if ____. • A. I was not called away • B. nobody would have called me away • C. I had not been called away • D. nobody called me away

Exercises 3. If you have really been studying English for so long, it’s about time you ____ able to write letters in English. A. should be B. were C. must be D. are 4. Much as ____, I couldn't lend him the money because I simply didn't have that much spare cash. A. I would have liked to B. I would like to have C. I should have to like D. I should have liked to

Exercises • 5. If your car ____ any attention during the first 12 month, take it to an authorised dealer. • shall need B. should need • C. would need D. will need • 6. ____ enough time and money, the researcher would have been able to discover more in this field. • A. Giving B. To give C. Given • D. Being given

Exercises • 7. All of us would have enjoyed the party much more if there _ quite such a crowd of people there. • A. weren't B. hasn’t been • C. hadn’t been D. wouldn't be • 8. ____ for the fact that she broke her leg, she might have passed the exam. • A. Had it not been B. Hadn’t it been • C. Was it not D. Were it not

Subjunctive Mood