Subjunctive Mood in English

Jul. 04, 2024

The main part of this post is obtained from “English with Lucy” YouTube Channel video¹.

What is the subjunctive mood?

English has four moods²

indicative, for stating facts and opinions;
imperative, for delivering orders, requests, or advice;
interrogative, for asking questions;
subjunctive, for wishes, unreal conditions, recommendations, doubts, and hypotheticals.

We use the subjunctive mood to express wishes and imagined situations and to make proposals and suggestions.¹

The Subjunctive Mood: Subjunctive mood is a grammar tool that helps express an idea or state of being that is hypothetical, proposed, supposed, requested, demanded, wished for, or otherwise contrary to fact. Lawyers can skillfully use the subjunctive mood to discuss potential scenarios, assess consequences, and convey conditions that rely on uncertain outcomes.²

wish

I wish he were here.

if only

If only I were taller.

if only³

We use “if only” to express a strong wish that things could be different. It means the same as “I wish” but is stronger. We use it to talk about past, present and future unreal conditions.

“if only + past verb”: to talk about a wish for the present.

If only he knew the truth. (he doesn’t know the truth, but he wishes he did)
If only there was something she could do or say to help.
We sometimes use “were” instead of “was” in more formal situations:
- If only she weren’t so tired. (If only she wasn’t so tired.)

“if only + would + infinitive” without “to”: to talk about a wish for the future or to show a contrast between how things are and how we would like them to be.

If only someone would buy the house.
If only they would talk to each other.

“ if only + past perfect”: to talk about a wish to change something that has already happened.

If only he had listened to what his friends had been telling him. (He didn’t listen.)
If only Anna had been able to come. (Anna wasn’t able to come.)

would rather

If you say that you “would rather” do something or “you’d rather” do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say that “you would rather not” do something, you mean that you do not want to do it.⁴

I would rather he played outside more often instead of always sitting on the computer.
If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather work at home.

Subjunctive verb forms

Present subjunctive

The present subjunctive uses the base form of the verb with all subjects.

We use the present subjective to talk about a present or future hypothetical.

I suggested he stop eating out so often if he wants to save money.
I suggested they stop eating out so often if they want to save money.

Past subjunctive

In the past subjunctive, we use the past simple form, or be, we use were with all subjects.

We use the past subjunctive to talk about things we wish were true or that we wish had happened in the past.

I wish she were here.

We often use the past subjunctive in subordinate clauses that begin with as though (as if)⁵, and if, as well as with the verb wish.

He looked straight through me as if I were invisible.
Dylan seemed so confident as though he knew he would win from the very beginning.

Verbs and phrases that are followed by the subjunctive

Sentences in the subjunctive mood often contain multiple clauses.

suggest

I suggest he go home immediately and check on his mum.

recommend

I recommend you take two tablets per day.

request

We requested that she come an hour earlier to help us set up.

demand

He demands they clean their rooms, right now.

ask

I ask that we change the time of the event as so many people can’t make it.

insist

They insisted he move his car as it is blocking the road.

propose

She proposes the team continue training for as long as possible tonight.

It is important that

It is important that she be given priority.

It is advisable that

It is advisable that they stay outside for as short a time as possible.

It is imperative that

It is imperative that work stop immediately while we wait for the inspector.

Common phrases containing subjective

suffice to say

“Suffice it to say” or “suffice to say” is used at the beginning of a statement to indicate that what you are saying is obvious, or that you will only give a short explanation.⁶

Suffice to say, Ellen wasn’t very happy when they arrived two hours late.
Suffice it to say that afterwards we never met again.

be that as it may

You say “Be that as it may” when you want to move onto another subject or go further with the discussion, without deciding whether what has just been said is right or wrong.⁷

Be that as it may, we can’t wait for them forever.
My dad was a nice man. A gentleman. Be that as it may, he hated Conservatives.

heaven forbid

You say “Heaven forbid!” to emphasize that you very much hope that something will not happen.⁸

Heaven forbid anything happen to them.
Heaven forbid that he should leave because of me!

So be it!

So be it! I’ll let you have the job.

come what may

whatever happens.⁹

They’re pushing ahead with the new road, come what may.

far be it from me

I certainly would not.¹⁰

Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do.
Far be it from me to interrupt.

References