English subjunctive

The subjunctive mood in English is used to form sentences that express wished-for, tentatively assumed, or hypothetical states of affairs, rather than things that the speaker intends to represent as true and factual. These include statements that express opinion, belief, purpose, intention, or desire. The subjunctive mood, such as She suggests that he speak English, contrasts with the indicative mood, which is used for statements of fact, such as He speaks English.

In Modern English, the subjunctive form of a verb often looks identical to the indicative form, and thus subjunctives are not a very visible grammatical feature of English. For most verbs, the only distinct subjunctive form is found in the third person singular of the present tense, where the subjunctive lacks the -s ending: It is necessary that he see a doctor (contrasted with the indicative he sees). The verb be, however, has not only a distinct present subjunctive (be, as in I suggest that he be removed) but also a past subjunctive were (as in If he were rich, …).

These two tenses of the subjunctive have no particular connection in meaning with present and past time. Terminology varies; sometimes what is called the present subjunctive here is referred to simply as the subjunctive, and the form were may be treated just as an alternative irrealis form of was rather than a past subjunctive.

Another case where present-subjunctive forms are distinguished from indicatives is when they are negated: compare I recommend that they not enter the competition (subjunctive) with I hope that they do not enter the competition (indicative).

Forms

English has present subjunctive and past subjunctive forms, which are often similar to the present indicative and past indicative forms (the familiar present and past tense forms of verbs). Note that these terms are used here merely as names for forms that verbs take; the use of "present subjunctive" and "past subjunctive" forms is not limited to referring to present and past time. (Sometimes the term subjunctive is used only to refer to what is called here the present subjunctive.)

The present subjunctive is identical to the bare infinitive (and imperative) of the verb in all forms. This means that, for almost all verbs, the present subjunctive differs from the present indicative only in the third person singular form, which lacks the ending -s in the subjunctive.

Present indicative

I own, you own, he owns, we own, they own

Present subjunctive

(that) I own, (that) you own, (that) he own, (that) we own, (that) they own

With the verb be, however, the two moods are fully distinguished:

Present indicative

I am, you are, he is, we are, they are

Present subjunctive

(that) I be, (that) you be, (that) he be, (that) we be, (that) they be

Note also the defective verb beware, which lacks indicative forms, but has a present subjunctive: (that) she beware…

The two moods are also fully distinguished when negated. Present subjunctive forms are negated by placing the word not before them.

Present indicative

I do not own, you do not own, he does not own…; I am not…

Present subjunctive

(that) I not own, (that) you not own, (that) he not own…; (that) I not be…

The past subjunctive exists as a distinct form only for the verb be, which has the form were throughout:

Past indicative

I was, you were, he was, we were, they were

Past subjunctive

(that) I were, (that) you were, (that) he were, (that) we were, (that) they were

In the past tense, there is no difference between the two moods as regards manner of negation: I was not; (that) I were not. Verbs other than be are described as lacking a past subjunctive, or possibly as having a past subjunctive identical in form to the past indicative: (that) I owned; (that) I did not own.

Certain subjunctives (particularly were) can also be distinguished from indicatives by the possibility of inversion with the subject, as described under § Inversion below.

Compound forms, auxiliaries and modals

The subjunctive forms be, have, and were can also be used as auxiliaries, e.g.,

It is important that he be cured.

The English modal verbs do not have present subjunctive forms.

A construction with the modal should is frequently used as an alternative to the simple present subjunctive, e.g.,

It is important that he should be cured.

The should form, in certain conditionals, can undergo inversion as described below.

Use of the present subjunctive

The main use of the English present subjunctive, called the mandative or jussive subjunctive, occurs in that clauses (declarative content clauses; the word that is sometimes omitted in informal and conversational usage) expressing a circumstance that is desired, demanded, recommended, necessary, or similar. Such a clause may be dependent on verbs like insist, suggest, demand, prefer, adjectives like necessary, desirable, or nouns like recommendation, necessity; it may be part of the expression in order that… (or some formal uses of so that…); it may also stand independently as the subject of a clause or as a predicative expression.

The form is called the present subjunctive because it resembles the present indicative in form, not because it need refer to the present time. In fact this form can equally well be used in sentences referring to past, future or hypothetical time (the time frame is normally expressed in the verb of the main clause).

Examples:

• I insist (that) he leave now.
• We asked that it be done yesterday.
• It might be desirable that you not publish the story.
• I support the recommendation that they not be punished.
• I braked in order that the car stay on the road. (Unusual construction, typical would be I braked so that the car would stay on the road.)
• That he appear in court is a necessary condition for his being granted bail.

Note that after some words, both indicative and subjunctive are possible, with difference in meaning:

• I insist that he is here (indicative, a forceful assertion of the fact that he is here)
• I insist that he be here (subjunctive, a demand that the condition of his being here be fulfilled)

This dual statement/directive use of verbs like insist, suggest and propose can lead to confusion as some, mainly British, speakers informally use the indicative and not the subjunctive, while others, especially Americans, strongly prefer the subjunctive.

Examples:

1. Marjorie had insisted that Barbara spent the morning resting in her stateroom. As it was grey outside and the wind was markedly cooler, she was not deprived too much. [Peter Lovesey, The False Inspector Dew, 1982, p. 200]
2. Vivian wept as she felt so helpless to do anything for her little baby. She asked John to call Father O'Brien to baptize little Caroline and insisted that he went home to rest. [Mary Jo Stanley, Boxed Secrets, 2011, p. 194]
3. He worked in an optical business off Baker Street, and I suggested that he studied lenses and optics, and got him into night school. [Leslie Thompson, Jeffrey P. Green, Leslie Thompson, an Autobiography, 1985, p. 143]
4. Undaunted by mere appearances, Thornton proposed that he underwent an immediate tracheostomy and that he should be warmed by gentle massage and washing and be transfused with fresh lamb's blood! [Transactions of the Medical Society of London, 2000, Vol. 117, p. 6 ]
5. They were insistent that he checked it out. He was exhausted and right now all he wanted to do was to take his tired ass home and get some sleep. [Bernard L. Jr. Satterwhite, Playaz and Wolves, 2009, p. 139]
6. That's odd, because originally it was John who was adamant that we brought in a keyboard player. [Hugh Cornwell, Jim Dury, The Stranglers: Song by Song, 2002, p. 292]

In example 1, many American speakers, after reading the second sentence, will be jarred into thinking the indicative spent in the first sentence is a mistake for the subjunctive spend, because the second sentence makes it clear that insist was used as a directive and not a statement. Examples 2 and 3 may similarly perplex some readers: context suggests the verbs are directives, which clashes with the indicative mood the authors use. Example 4 is a curious mix of both British alternatives to the subjunctive: the indicative (underwent) and the modal (should be warmed… be transfused). Examples 5 and 6 show that some non-verbal constructions can have similar mandative force. American versions of the above examples would use the subjunctive: (1) spend; (2) go; (3) study; (4) undergo [and delete should]; (5) check out; (6) bring in.

Notice that the subjunctive is not generally used after verbs such as hope and expect, or after verbs that use a different syntax, such as want (it is not usual to say *I want that he wash up; the typical syntax is I want him to wash up).

Another use of the present subjunctive is in clauses with the conjunction lest, which generally express a potential adverse event:

• I am running faster lest she catch me (i.e., "in order that she not catch me")
• I was worried lest she catch me (i.e., "that she might catch me")

The present subjunctive is occasionally found in clauses expressing a probable condition, such as If I be found guilty… (more common is am or should be; for more information see English conditional sentences). This usage is mostly old-fashioned or excessively formal, although it is found in some common fixed expressions such as if need be.

Perhaps somewhat more common is the use after whether in the sense of "no matter whether": Whether they be friend or foe, we shall give them shelter. In both of these uses, it is possible to invert subject and verb and omit the conjunction; see § Inversion below. Analogous uses are occasionally found after other conjunctions, such as unless, until, whoever, wherever, etc.: I shall not do it unless I be instructed; Whoever he be, he shall not go unpunished.

In most of the above examples a form with should can be used as an alternative: I insist that he should leave now etc. This is more common in British English than American English. In some cases, such as after in order that, another alternative is to use may or (especially with past reference) might:

• I am putting your dinner in the oven in order that it (may) keep warm.
• He wrote it in his diary in order that he (might) remember.

A present subjunctive verb form is sometimes found in a main clause, with the force of a wish or a third person imperative (and such forms can alternatively be analyzed as imperatives). This is most common nowadays in established phrases, such as (God) bless you, God save the Queen, heaven forbid, peace be with you, truth be told, so be it, suffice it to say, long live…, woe betide… It is used more broadly in some archaic or literary English. An equivalent construction is that with may and subject-verb inversion: May God bless you etc.

See also § Archaic uses below.

Use of the past subjunctive

The only distinct past subjunctive form in English (i.e., form that differs from the corresponding past indicative) is were, which differs when used with a first or third person singular subject (where the indicative form is was). As with the present subjunctive, the name past subjunctive refers to the form of the verb rather than its meaning; it need not (and in fact usually does not) refer to past time.

The main use of the past subjunctive form, were, which is also known as the irrealis is in counterfactual if clauses (see English conditional sentences § Second conditional):

• If I were your wife, I would put poison in your coffee. [Attributed to Lady Astor, speaking to Winston Churchill]

The simple (indicative) past form was is very common in sentences of this type, though the Random House College Dictionary states "Although the [were] subjunctive seems to be disappearing from the speech of many, its proper use is still a mark of the educated speaker." When were is used, an inverted form without if is possible (see § Inversion below); this is not possible with was. A common expression involving were is if I were you.

The same principles of usage apply to the compound past subjunctive form were to…, which appears in 'second conditional' condition clauses, usually with hypothetical future reference:

• If she were to go… or Were she to go… (equivalent to if she went)

The past subjunctive form may be used similarly to express counterfactual conditions after suppose, as if, as though, unless, imagine etc.

• Suppose that I were there now.
• She looks as though she were going to kill him.
• Try to imagine he were here.
• Try to imagine a tool that made that easy for citizens.

There is also the set expression as it were.

The past subjunctive can also be used in some that clauses expressing a wish contrary to fact or unlikely to be fulfilled (see also Uses of English verb forms § Expressions of wish):

• I wish [that] he were here now.
• If only the door were unlocked.
• I would rather [that] she were released.
• Would that it were true!
• Oh that it were so.
• God, I wish that were me.

However, the use of the subjunctive with words such as wish is seldom obligatory.

The example with would rather can be cast in the present subjunctive, expressing greater confidence that the action is feasible: I would rather she be released.

See also § Archaic uses below.

Distinguishing from past indicative after if

Confusion sometimes arises in the case of if clauses containing an ordinary past indicative was.

When if means when, the indicative is the proper mood.

1. If/when he was walking down the road, he used to whistle.

compared with:

1. If he were to walk down the road, he might whistle.

Compare also:

1. If he was in class yesterday, he learned it.
2. If he were in class today, he would be learning it.

The first if clause contains a simple past indicative, referring to past time (it is not known whether or not the circumstance in fact took place). The second, however, expresses a counterfactual circumstance connected with the present, and therefore contains (or should contain) a past subjunctive.

The "past subjunctive" (irrealis) form were is also used by some as an alternative to the backshifted indicative was following if or whether in indirect speech or thought, for example:

• … he asked me if I were about to return to London …(Mary Shelley, The Last Man, 1833)
• Johnny asked me if I were afraid. (Barbara in Night of the Living Dead, 1968)
• He sometimes wondered whether he were being affected by the diet . . . (Iris Murdoch: The Good Apprentice, 1985)

Inversion

As noted in the sections above, some clauses containing subjunctive verb forms, or other constructions that have the function of subjunctives, may exhibit subject–auxiliary inversion (an auxiliary or copular verb changes places with the subject of the clause).

The most common example of this is in condition clauses, where inversion is accompanied by the omission of the conjunction if. This is described in more detail at English conditional sentences § Inversion in condition clauses. The principal constructions are:

• Inversion with should: Should you feel hungry, … (equivalent to If you (should) feel hungry)
• Inversion with were as simple past subjunctive: Were you here, … (equivalent to If you were here, …)
• Inversion with were in compound forms of the past subjunctive: Were he to shoot, … (equivalent to If he were to shoot, i.e., If he shot)
• Inversion with had in the pluperfect, referring to usually counterfactual conditions in the past: Had he written, … (equivalent to If he had written)
• Inversion with were in compound forms of the pluperfect subjunctive: Were he to have lied, … (equivalent to If he were to have lied)

Inversion is also possible in the case of the (rarer) use of the present subjunctive in condition clauses, and in other clauses with somewhat different meaning, where the omitted conjunction would be something like whether, although or even if. These are generally archaic, except for some instances where the meaning of the clause is "no matter whether … or … " (second and third examples below).

• Be he called on by God, … (equivalent to "If he be (i.e. If he is) called on by God, …")
• Be they friend or foe, … (equivalent to "(No matter) whether they be friend or foe, …")
• Be he alive or be he dead (from Jack and the Beanstalk).
• Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home (from "Home! Sweet Home!"; meaning "even if" or "even though")

In some examples, preserved in set expressions and well-known phrases, inversion may take place with non-auxiliary verbs: come what may; come Monday (etc.). (See also § Archaic uses below.) There are also imperative-type (jussive) uses such as Long live the King! A more common way of expressing such jussives is with inversion of the auxiliary may: May they always be happy!

Historical forms

The first table below shows the present and past subjunctive endings in use at various stages of the development of English: in Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English and Modern English. Forms that differ from the corresponding indicative are bolded. -∅ denotes zero ending.

	Present tense				Past tense
	Singular			Plural	Singular		Plural
	First person	Second person	Third person		First & third person	Second person
Old English	-e	-e	-e	-en	-d-e	-d-e	-d-on
Middle English	-e	-e	-e	-e(n)	?	?	-d-e(n)
Early Modern English	-∅	-∅	-∅	-∅	-d	-d, -d-st	-d
Modern English	-∅	-∅	-∅	-∅	-d	-d-st	-d

For comparison, the corresponding indicative endings are also given:

	Present tense				Past tense
	Singular			Plural	Singular		Plural
	First person	Second person	Third person		First & third person	Second person
Old English	-e	-st	-eþ	-aþ	-d-e	-d-est	-d-on
Middle English	-e, -∅	-st, -est	-th, -s	-e(n)	-d(e)	-d-st	-d-e(n)
Early Modern English	-∅	-est, -st	-s, -th	-∅	-d	-d-st	-d
Modern English	-∅	-∅	-s	-∅	-d	-d	-d

The irregular verb be has a larger number of distinct forms, these being derived from different stems (a case of suppletion). See the Wiktionary articles on be, am, is, were, etc.

As the tables show, in Early Modern English the past subjunctive was distinguishable from the past indicative not only in the verb to be (as in Modern English), but also in the informal second-person singular (thou form) of all verbs. For example: indicative thou sattest, but subjunctive thou sat. The -(e)st ending was also absent in principle in the present subjunctive; nonetheless, it was sometimes added; for example, thou beëst appears frequently as a present subjunctive in the works of Shakespeare and some of his contemporaries.

Archaic uses

Subjunctive verb forms were formerly used more widely in English than they are today. Cases of such usage can be encountered in samples of archaic or pseudo-archaic English, and in certain set expressions that have been preserved in the modern language.

Examples of subjunctive uses in archaic English:

• I will not let thee go, except [=unless] thou bless me. (King James Bible, Genesis 32:26)
• Though he were dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25)
• Murder, though it have no tongue, will speak. (Shakespeare, Hamlet)

Examples of set expressions that preserve "fossilized", archaic subjunctive uses:

• "come what may"
• "God forbid"
• "God save the Queen"
• "Heaven forbid"
• "so be it"
• "so help me God"
• "suffice it to say"
• "be that as it may"

See also

• Habitual be
• Subjunctive in Dutch

Bibliography

• Fowler, H.W. (2015). Butterfield, Jeremy (ed.). Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-966135-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
• Huddleston, Rodney; Pullum, Geoffrey (2002). The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-43146-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Merriam-Webster's Concise Dictionary of English Usage. Penguin. 2002. ISBN 9780877796336.

External links

• Subjunctive in English at englishpage.com
• The English subjunctive: scholarly opinions at ceafinney.com