CHAPTER 9.

THE SUBJUNCTIVE
1. Uses of the subjunctive
In modern English, the Simple Present Subjunctive is most commonly used in formal commands
and requests. In the following examples, the verbs in the Simple Present Subjunctive are underlined.
e.g. hey demand that he submit a report.
!e request that you be here tomorrow.
he Simple Present Subjunctive is also still used in a few traditional expressions.
e.g. "ong live the #ing$
he past tenses of the Subjunctive, and the auxiliary ou!", are used in expressing wishes.
e.g. I wish you were here.
I wish I had %nown that.
I wish the rain would stop.
he past tenses of the Subjunctive, and the auxiliary ou!", can also be used in order to indicate
that conditions being expressed are false or improbable.
e.g. If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
If he had been here, he would have been glad to see you.
In the first example, the use of the Simple Past Subjunctive e#e and the Simple conjugation with
ou!" indicates that the condition expressed in the clause If I e#e #ich is false or improbable. In
the second example, the use of the Past Perfect Subjunctive h$" been, and the Perfect conjugation
with ou!", indicates that the condition expressed in the clause If he h$" been he#e is false.

%. &o#'$tion of the subjunctive
he English past and present tenses discussed in previous chapters are in what is usually referred to
as the In"ic$tive &ood. Each of the past and present tenses in the Indicative &ood has a
corresponding tense in the Subjunctive &ood.
In modern English, most verb tenses in the Subjunctive &ood are similar or identical to the
corresponding tenses in the Indicative &ood. It should be noted that verbs in the Subjunctive &ood
do not modify, but have the same form regardless of the subject.
he Simple Present Subjunctive and Simple Past Subjunctive of the verb to be are shown below.
he Indicative forms are also given, for purposes of comparison. he Subjunctive forms which
differ from the corresponding Indicative forms are shown in bold type.
The si'(!e in"ic$tive $n" subjunctive tenses of the ve#b To Be
Si'(!e P#esent
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I am I be
you are you be
he is he be
she is she be
it is it be
we are we be
they are they be
Si'(!e P$st
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I was I e#e
you were you were
he was he e#e
she was she e#e
it was it e#e
we were we were
they were they were
'or any verb, the Simple Present Subjunctive is formed from the bare infinitive of the verb.
'or any verb except the verb to be, the Simple Past Subjunctive is identical to the Simple Past
Indicative.
'or all of the past and present tenses conjugated with auxiliaries, the Subjunctive tenses are formed
in the same way as the Indicative tenses, except that the Subjunctive of the auxiliaries is used.
(sing the example of the verb to o#), the following table compares the tenses of the Indicative
and Subjunctive &oods. he Subjunctive forms which differ from the corresponding Indicative
forms are printed in bold type.
The in"ic$tive $n" subjunctive tenses of the ve#b To *o#)
Si'(!e P#esent
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I wor% I wor%
you wor% you wor%
he wor%s he o#)
she wor%s she o#)
it wor%s it o#)
we wor% we wor%
they wor% they wor%
P#esent Continuous
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I am wor%ing I be wor%ing
you are wor%ing you be wor%ing
he is wor%ing he be wor%ing
she is wor%ing she be wor%ing
it is wor%ing it be wor%ing
we are wor%ing we be wor%ing
they are wor%ing they be wor%ing
P#esent Pe#fect
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I have wor%ed I have wor%ed
you have wor%ed you have wor%ed
he has wor%ed he h$ve wor%ed
she has wor%ed she h$ve wor%ed
it has wor%ed it h$ve wor%ed
we have wor%ed we have wor%ed
they have wor%ed they have wor%ed
P#esent Pe#fect Continuous
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I have been wor%ing I have been wor%ing
you have been wor%ing you have been wor%ing
he has been wor%ing he h$ve been wor%ing
she has been wor%ing she h$ve been wor%ing
it has been wor%ing it h$ve been wor%ing
we have been wor%ing we have been wor%ing
they have been wor%ing they have been wor%ing
Si'(!e P$st
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I wor%ed I wor%ed
you wor%ed you wor%ed
he wor%ed he wor%ed
she wor%ed she wor%ed
it wor%ed it wor%ed
we wor%ed we wor%ed
they wor%ed they wor%ed
P$st Continuous
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I was wor%ing I e#e wor%ing
you were wor%ing you were wor%ing
he was wor%ing he e#e wor%ing
she was wor%ing she e#e wor%ing
it was wor%ing it e#e wor%ing
we were wor%ing we were wor%ing
they were wor%ing they were wor%ing
P$st Pe#fect
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I had wor%ed I had wor%ed
you had wor%ed you had wor%ed
he had wor%ed he had wor%ed
she had wor%ed she had wor%ed
it had wor%ed it had wor%ed
we had wor%ed we had wor%ed
they had wor%ed they had wor%ed
P$st Pe#fect Continuous
In"ic$tive Subjunctive
I had been wor%ing I had been wor%ing
you had been wor%ing you had been wor%ing
he had been wor%ing he had been wor%ing
she had been wor%ing she had been wor%ing
it had been wor%ing it had been wor%ing
we had been wor%ing we had been wor%ing
they had been wor%ing they had been wor%ing
he following table summari)es the formation of the English Subjunctive tenses*
Tense Au+i!i$#, Ve#b &o#'
Simple Present do bare infinitive
Present +ontinuous be present participle
Present Perfect have past participle
Present Perfect +ontinuous have been present participle

Simple Past did bare infinitive
Past +ontinuous were present participle
Past Perfect had past participle
Past Perfect +ontinuous had been present participle

-. &o#'$! co''$n"s $n" #e.uests
he Simple Present Subjunctive was once more extensively used than it is today. In modern
,merican English, the Simple Present Subjunctive is still used in clauses beginning with the word
th$t which express formal commands or requests. In the following examples, the word th$t is
printed in bold type, and the verbs in the Simple Present Subjunctive are underlined.
e.g. hey requested th$t she arrive early.
It is important th$t they be present at the meeting.
he demand th$t he provide identification will create a delay.
he main clauses of the preceding examples are the, #e.ueste", it is i'(o#t$nt and the "e'$n"
i!! c#e$te $ "e!$,. In the first example, the verb #e.ueste" is in the Simple Past- in the second
example, the verb is is in the Simple Present- and in the third example, the verb i!! c#e$te is in the
Simple 'uture.
,s illustrated in these examples, the use of the Simple Present Subjunctive in the subordinate clause
of a formal command or request is independent of the tense of the verb in the main clause.
he Simple Present Subjunctive is more commonly used in formal English than in informal
English. 'or instance, the sentence ./e advises th$t you not be late,. is an example of formal
English. In informal English, the same idea would probably be expressed by the sentence ./e
advises you not to be late,. in which the infinitive is used, rather than a clause requiring the Simple
Present Subjunctive.
/. *ishes
he past tenses of the Subjunctive, and the auxiliary ou!", are used in the subordinate clauses of
sentences which use the verb to ish in the main clause. In the following examples, the verb to
ish is printed in bold type, and the verbs in the subordinate clauses are underlined.
e.g. /e ishes that he were rich.
hey ish that they had studied harder when they were young.
She ishes that you would come to the meeting tomorrow.
It should be noted that the word th$t can be omitted from a sentence which uses the verb to ish in
the main clause.
e.g. /e ishes he were rich.
hey ish they had studied harder when they were young.
She ishes you would come to the meeting tomorrow.
he form of the verb used in the subordinate clause of a wish is independent of the tense of the verb
in the main clause. ,s explained below, the form of the verb used in the subordinate clause of a
wish is determined by whether the time of the action referred to in the subordinate clause is earlier
than, the same as, or later than the time of the action referred to in the main clause.
$. An e$#!ie# ti'e
!hen the subordinate clause refers to an earlier time than the main clause, the Past Perfect
Subjunctive is usually used in the subordinate clause. In the following examples, the verbs in the
Past Perfect Subjunctive are underlined.
e.g. !e ishe" he had spo%en to us.
I ish you had called earlier.
hey i!! ish they had listened to us sooner.
In the case of a continuous, ongoing action, the Past Perfect +ontinuous Subjunctive may be used
instead of the Past Perfect Subjunctive. In the following example, the verb in the Past Perfect
+ontinuous Subjunctive is underlined.
e.g. She ishes she had been staying with us last wee%.
In each of these examples, the use of the Past Perfect Subjunctive or the Past Perfect +ontinuous
Subjunctive indicates that the subordinate clause refers to an earlier time than the main clause.
b. The s$'e ti'e
!hen the subordinate clause refers to the same time as the main clause, the Simple Past
Subjunctive is usually used in the subordinate clause. In the following examples, the verbs in the
Simple Past Subjunctive are underlined.
e.g. !hen she was at the party, she ishe" she were at home.
0ow that he is in +hina, he ishes he understood +hinese.
!hen we begin the trip, they i!! ish they were with us.
In the case of a continuous, ongoing action, the Past +ontinuous Subjunctive may be used instead of
the Simple Past Subjunctive. In the following example, the verb in the Past +ontinuous Subjunctive
is underlined.
e.g. hey ish they were traveling now.
In each of these examples, the use of the Simple Past Subjunctive or the Past +ontinuous
Subjunctive indicates that the subordinate clause refers to the same time as the main clause.
c. A !$te# ti'e
!hen the subordinate clause refers to a later time than the main clause, the Simple conjugation with
the auxiliary ou!" is usually used in the subordinate clause. In the following examples, the verbs
in the Simple conjugation with ou!" are underlined.
e.g. 1ou ishe" she would arrive the next day.
I ish she would change her mind.
/e i!! ish we would join him the following wee%.
In each of these examples, the use of the Simple conjugation with ou!" indicates that the
subordinate clause refers to a later time than the main clause.
". Su''$#,
he following table summari)es the verb forms most often used in the subordinate clauses of
sentences expressing wishes.
Ti'e Refe##e" to in Subo#"in$te C!$use
Co'($#e" to Ti'e Refe##e" to in 0$in C!$use &o#' of Ve#b Use" in Subo#"in$te C!$use

Earlier Past Perfect Subjunctive o#
Past Perfect +ontinuous Subjunctive
e.g. I wish it had snowed yesterday.

Same Simple Past Subjunctive o#
Past +ontinuous Subjunctive
e.g. I wish it were snowing now.

"ater Simple conjugation with ou!"
e.g. I wish it would snow tomorrow.
e. Use of the $u+i!i$#, Cou!" in e+(#essin1 ishes
It should be noted that the modal auxiliary cou!", which will be discussed further in the next
chapter, can also be used in the subordinate clause of a sentence expressing a wish. he auxiliary
cou!" forms conjugations in the same way as the auxiliary ou!".
e.g. I wish I could help you tomorrow.
I wish I could help you now.
,s illustrated in the preceding examples, the Simple conjugation with cou!" may be used when the
time referred to in the subordinate clause is later than, or the same as, the time referred to in the
main clause.
,s illustrated in the following example, the Perfect conjugation with cou!" may be used when the
time referred to in the subordinate clause is earlier than the time referred to in the main clause.
e.g. I wish I could have helped you yesterday.
2. Con"itions hich $#e f$!se o# i'(#ob$b!e
+onditions are most often expressed in subordinate clauses beginning with the word if. In the
following examples, the word if is printed in bold type.
e.g. If it had rained yesterday, we would have stayed at home.
he condition contained in this sentence is expressed in the subordinate clause if it h$" #$ine"
,este#"$,.
Sometimes the word if is omitted from a subordinate clause expressing a condition. !hen the word
if is omitted, the verb 2in the case of the Simple tenses of to be3, or the first auxiliary, must be
placed before the subject. he following pairs of sentences illustrate the change in word order
which occurs when the word if is omitted from a clause expressing a condition. In these examples,
the verbs of the subordinate clauses are underlined.
e.g. If I were braver, I would challenge him.
!ere I braver, I would challenge him.
If they had been expecting us, they would have arranged to meet us.
/ad they been expecting us, they would have arranged to meet us.
If I had not received your message, I would have left.
/ad I not received your message, I would have left.
,s well as being expressed in subordinate clauses beginning with the word if, conditions may also
be expressed in subordinate clauses beginning with the word un!ess.
e.g. Un!ess he were a giant, he would not be able to see over the wall.
Either the Indicative &ood or the Subjunctive &ood can be used to express a condition.
In the case of a condition which is considered true or probable, the Indicative &ood is used.
e.g. If she is here now, we will as% her opinion.
In this example, the verb is is in the Simple Present Indicative. he use of the Simple Present
Indicative indicates that the condition if she is he#e no is considered to be probable.
In the case of a condition which is considered false or improbable, the Subjunctive &ood is used.
e.g. If she were here now, we would as% her opinion.
In this example, the verb e#e is in the Simple Past Subjunctive. he use of the Simple Past
Subjunctive indicates that the condition if she e#e he#e no is considered to be false or
improbable.
$. &o#'s of the ve#b use" in the '$in c!$use
!hen a sentence contains a condition which is considered false or improbable, the verb in the main
clause is usually in the Simple or Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary ou!".
i. Refe##in1 to (#esent o# futu#e ti'e
In a sentence containing a false or improbable condition, if the main clause refers to present or
future time, the Simple conjugation with the auxiliary ou!" is usually used. In the following
examples, the verbs in the Simple conjugation with ou!" are underlined.
e.g. If he were ready, I would accompany him.
If she came, I would lend her my bicycle.
In these examples, the use of the Simple conjugation with ou!" indicates that the main clauses I
ou!" $cco'($n, hi' and I ou!" !en" he# ', bic,c!e refer to present or future time.
In the case of a continuous, ongoing action, the +ontinuous conjugation with ou!" may be used.
In the following examples, the verbs in the +ontinuous conjugation with ou!" are underlined.
e.g. If they were here, he would be spea%ing to them now.
If they arrived tomorrow, he would be giving them a tour of the city.
ii. Refe##in1 to ($st ti'e
In a sentence containing a false or improbable condition, if the main clause refers to past time, the
Perfect conjugation with the auxiliary ou!" is usually used. In the following example, the verb in
the Perfect conjugation with ou!" is underlined.
e.g. If it had snowed, I would have s%ied in the par%.
In this example, the use of the Perfect conjugation with ou!" indicates that the main clause I
ou!" h$ve s)ie" in the ($#) refers to past time. he use of the Perfect conjugation with ou!",
combined with the use of the Past Perfect in the subordinate clause, indicates that the condition it
h$" snoe" is false, and that the action of s%iing did not ta%e place.
In the case of a continuous, ongoing action, the Perfect +ontinuous conjugation with ou!" may be
used. In the following example, the verb in the Perfect +ontinuous conjugation with ou!" is
underlined.
e.g. If they had been here, he would have been spea%ing to them.
iii. Su''$#,
he forms of the verb most commonly used in the main clauses of sentences containing false or
improbable conditions are summari)ed in the following table.
Refe##in1 To Ve#b in 0$in C!$use
Present or Simple conjugation with ou!"
future time o# +ontinuous conjugation with ou!"
e.g. If you started now, you would arrive on time.

Past time Perfect conjugation with ou!"
o# Perfect +ontinuous conjugation with ou!"
e.g. If you had started yesterday, you would have arrived on time.
iv. Use of the $u+i!i$#, Cou!" in sentences cont$inin1 f$!se o# i'(#ob$b!e Con"itions
It should be noted that the auxiliary cou!" can be used in either the main clause or the subordinate
clause of a sentence containing a false or improbable condition. he first pair of examples illustrates
the use of the auxiliary cou!" in the main clause. he second pair of examples illustrates the use of
the auxiliary cou!" in the subordinate clause.
e.g. If they studied hard, they could pass the exam next year.
If they had studied hard, they could have passed the exam last year.
If you could see me now, you would not recogni)e me.
If you could have seen me yesterday, you would not have recogni)ed me.
In these examples, the verbs cou!" ($ss and cou!" see are in the Simple conjugation with cou!"-
and the verbs cou!" h$ve ($sse" and cou!" h$ve seen are in the Perfect conjugation with cou!". ,s
illustrated in these examples, the Simple conjugation with cou!" may be used to refer to present or
future time- whereas the Perfect conjugation with cou!" may be used to refer to past time.
b. &o#'s of the ve#b use" in the subo#"in$te c!$use
i. Refe##in1 to (#esent o# futu#e ti'e
In a sentence containing a false or improbable condition, if the subordinate clause refers to present
or future time, the Simple Past Subjunctive is usually used. In the following examples, the verbs in
the Simple Past Subjunctive are underlined.
e.g. If it snowed, I would s%i in the par%.
If he were here, I would give him the boo%s.
In these examples, the use of the Simple Past Subjunctive indicates that the subordinate clauses if it
snoe" and if he e#e he#e refer to present or future time.
In the case of a continuous, ongoing action, the Past +ontinuous Subjunctive may be used. In the
following example, the verb in the Past +ontinuous Subjunctive is underlined.
If she were staying here now, I would let her ride my horse.
It should be noted that, in the case of the verb to be, in informal English, the Simple Past Indicative
is often used instead of the Simple Past Subjunctive. 'or instance, the following pair of examples
shows how the same idea might be expressed in formal and informal English.
'ormal* If he were here now, I would give him the boo%s.
Informal* If he was here now, I would give him the boo%s.
It should be observed that, even when the Indicative is used instead of the Subjunctive, the use of a
past tense for an action pertaining to present time, combined with the use of the conjugation with
ou!" in the main clause, is enough to indicate clearly that the condition expressed is considered
false or improbable. /owever, this use of $s instead of e#e is considered grammatically incorrect
in formal English.
ii. Refe##in1 to ($st ti'e
In a sentence containing a false or improbable condition, if the subordinate clause refers to past
time, the Past Perfect Subjunctive is usually used. In the following example, the verb in the Past
Perfect Subjunctive is underlined.
e.g. If he had wanted to come, he would have called us.
In this example, the use of the Past Perfect Subjunctive indicates that the subordinate clause if he
h$" $nte" to co'e refers to past time. he use of the Past Perfect Subjunctive also indicates that
the condition he h$" $nte" to co'e is false.
In the case of a continuous, ongoing action, the Past Perfect +ontinuous Subjunctive may be used.
In the following example, the verb in the Past Perfect +ontinuous Subjunctive is underlined.
e.g. If it had been raining yesterday, I would have ta%en my umbrella.
iii. Su''$#,
he forms of the Subjunctive most commonly used in subordinate clauses expressing false or
improbable conditions are summari)ed in the following table.
Refe##in1 To Ve#b in Subo#"in$te C!$use
Present or Simple Past Subjunctive
future time o# Past +ontinuous Subjunctive
e.g. If you started now, you would arrive on time.

Past time Past Perfect Subjunctive
o# Past Perfect +ontinuous Subjunctive
e.g. If you had started yesterday, you would have arrived on time.
c. Ch$n1in1 $ st$te'ent cont$inin1 $ (#ob$b!e con"ition into $ st$te'ent cont$inin1 $n
i'(#ob$b!e con"ition
, statement containing a probable condition can be changed into a statement containing an
improbable condition, by changing the forms of the verbs.
'or instance, in each of the following pairs of examples, the first statement contains a probable
condition- whereas the second statement contains an improbable condition. he verbs in the
subordinate clauses and main clauses are underlined.
Probable* If he is here now, we will give him the boo%.
Improbable* If he were here now, we would give him the boo%.
Probable* If I have time tonight, I will help you with your homewor%.
Improbable* If I had time tonight, I would help you with your homewor%.
In these examples, he is he#e no and I h$ve ti'e toni1ht express probable conditions- whereas
he e#e he#e no and I h$" ti'e tonight express improbable conditions.
hese examples illustrate how, when referring to non4continuous actions in present or future time, a
statement containing a probable condition can be changed into a statement containing an
improbable condition. he verb in the subordinate clause is changed from the Simple Present
Indicative to the Simple Past Subjunctive- and the verb in the main clause is changed from the
Simple 'uture to the Simple conjugation with ou!".
It is sometimes said that when a verb is in the Indicative &ood, the use of a past tense indicates
remoteness in terms of time- however, when a verb is in the Subjunctive &ood, the use of a past
tense indicates remoteness in terms of probability.

3. The i'(e#$tive 'oo"
he Imperative &ood is used for giving commands. "i%e the Simple Present Subjunctive, the
Imperative &ood of a verb is formed from the bare infinitive of the verb. 'or instance, the
Imperative of the verb to o#) is o#). In the following examples, the verbs in the Imperative
&ood are underlined.
e.g. !or%$
!or% harder$
"i%ewise, the Imperative of the verb to be is be.
e.g. 5e more alert$
1ou be ready to come with us.
he Imperative &ood can be used only in the second person. ,s shown in the first three examples
above, the subject of the sentence is often omitted when the Imperative &ood is used. In such
sentences, the subject ,ou is said to be .understood.. In written English, when the subject of the
verb is omitted from a command, the command is often followed by an exclamation mar%* 4
he Imperative &ood can also be used in negative statements. 0egative statements are formed
using the auxiliary "o, followed by the word not. he contraction "on5t is often used in spo%en
English. 'or example*
*ithout Cont#$ctions *ith Cont#$ctions
6o not wor% so hard. 6on7t wor% so hard.
6o not be afraid. 6on7t be afraid.