The Subjunctive Mood in English
Did you know that using the subjunctive can help you sound more sophisticated and accomplished?
Subjunctive: “I wish I were a bird so I could fly.”
Indicative: “I wish I was a bird so I could fly.”
While the subjunctive is common in formal written English, it is fading out in U.S. spoken English. Now you are as likely to hear “I wish I was a bubble so I could float” as you are to hear, “I wish I were a bubble so I could float”. There was a line from a popular song in the 1990’s that said, “What if God was one of us?”1 While it’s a great song, the grammar is technically incorrect. When we express a wish or desire for something that isn’t true, we use the subjunctive form, as in “What if God were one of us?” (I suppose we could debate whether in fact this IS true, but let’s leave that for another time!)
In fact, many songs have used “I wish I was…” perhaps because it sounds more informal. The reality is that language is always changing. So, if English speakers stop using the subjunctive form, then it will eventually fade away, and someday it might be considered perfect grammar to say, “I wish I was…”
In the meantime, let’s take a closer look and see if we can’t wake the subjunctive from the dying and help keep it alive!
The subjunctive mood
The subjunctive form is used to express a wish, suggestion, demand, or an unreal situation. Rather than a verb tense, which expresses time, the subjunctive expresses mood. We can use it to refer to the past, present, or future. For example:
Juliet’s father demanded that she not speak to Romeo again.
After Romeo killed Tybalt, the friar recommended that he flee.
How to form the subjunctive
The subjunctive is triggered by certain adjectives and verbs that express wishes, demands, recommendations, and doubts. A trigger verb or adjective is followed by “that”, followed by a verb in the base form.
Due to a long family feud, it was inadvisable that the lovers marry.
Nevertheless, Juliet suggested that they wed in secret.
For wishes use “were”
She wishes that she were not a Capulet and that Romeo were not a Montague.
Romeo and Juliet wish (that) they were free to marry.
Set expressions that use the subjunctive
Come what may…
Far be it from me to…
May the force be with you.
(May she) live long and prosper!
Verbs that can trigger the subjunctive
wish, suggest, ask, recommend, request, propose, urge, insist, require, demand, command, prefer
Adjectives that can trigger the subjunctive
advisable, best, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary, unthinkable, urgent, vital, adamant, anxious, determined, eager, keen
Practice
Exercise 1- Underline the subjunctive in the following sentences.
They wished that they could run off together.
He demanded that she apologize.
It is necessary that she be on time.
It’s critical that you explain it clearly.
Exercise 2- Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.
It is essential that she _______ (finish) the project on time.
I wish I _______ (be) taller.
The teacher demanded that the students _______ (be) quiet.
I suggest that she _______ (take) a break.
Answers
Exercise 1
finish
were
be
take
Exercise 2
1. finish
2. be
3. be
4. take
More practice online: Subjunctive Exercise
1 “One of Us” performed by Joan Osborne
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