The subjunctive

The subjunctive was formerly used in English for situations that were improbable or that
expressed a wish :God save the Queen!
 God bless you!
 God help us!
 Heaven help us!
 Heaven forbid that that should happen to me.
 Suffice it to say he escaped with only a caution.

The present subjunctive

The form in the present tense is the same as the base form in all persons of the verb. That is,
there is no -s on the 3rd person singular. The subjunctive is used, mainly in American English, in
subordinate clauses that follow verbs expressing a desire, a demand, a formal recommendation,
or a resolve.
 I only ask that he cease behaving like this.
 It is vital that they be arrested immediately.
 Is it necessary that she work overtime?
 I demand that you do your homework.
 It is crucial that she understand the policy of our company.
The clause containing the subjunctive is linked to the main clause with that.

Use of base subjunctive

1. suggest-verb (or noun) + that

 advise, ask, command, demand, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose,

recommend, request, suggest
 command, demand, order, proposal, recommendation, request, suggestion

2. advisable/anxious-adjective + that

 advisable, best, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary,

unthinkable, urgent, vital
 adamant, anxious, determined, eager, keen
 The judge order that he stay the execution.
 We have made a request that we not be disturbed.
 It is important that a car be waiting when we arrive.
 The manager was eager that his visitor see the new building.
  The board of directors recommended that he not be dismissed.
 Have you seen my suggestion that work hours be reduced?

The Past Subjunctive

Use of were-subjunctive
In the following examples, you can see that we sometimes use the were-subjunctive
(instead of was) after:

 if
 as if
 wish
 suppose

Note that in these cases were is always correct, but was is possible in informal

language mainly in British English:

Formal with were Informal with was

I would go if I were younger. I would go if I was younger.

If he were not so mean, he would buy one. If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one.

She acts as if she were the Queen. She acts as if she was the Queen.

I wish I weren't so slow! I wish I wasn't so slow!

 Formal with were Informal with was

I wish the computer were working. I wish the computer was working.

Suppose she were here. What would you Suppose she was here. What would you
say? say?

If I Were a Rich Man Fiddler on the Roof

If I were a boy Beyoncé