THE SUBJUNCTIVE
Form
A. The present
subjunctive has exactly the same form as the infinitive; therefore the present subjunctive of to be is be for all persons, and the present subjunctive of all other
verbs is the same as their present tense except that s is not added for the third person singular:
The queen lives here. (simple present tense)
Long
live the queen! (subjunctive)
B. The past subjunctive
has exactly the same form as the simple past except that with the verb be the past subjunctive form is either I/he/she/it was or I/he/she/it were. In expressions of doubt or unreality were is more usual than was:
He behaves as though he were the owner.
(But he
is not the owner.
In conversation, however, was is often used instead of were. Past subjunctives are
often known as ‘unreal pasts’.
In conversation, however, was is often used instead of were. Past subjunctives are
often known as ‘unreal pasts’.
Use of the present subjunctive
A. The present
subjunctive is used in certain exclamations to express a wish or hope,
very often involving supernatural powers:
very often involving supernatural powers:
(God) bless you! God save the queen!
Heaven
help us! Curse this
fog!
Come
what may, we’ll stand by you!
Notice also the phrase
if need be, which means
‘if it is necessary’: If need be we can always bring
another car.
‘if it is necessary’: If need be we can always bring
another car.
B.
It is sometimes used in poetry, either to express a wish or
in clauses of condition or concession:
in clauses of condition or concession:
Stevenson : Fair the day shine as it shone in my childhood.
(May the day shine/I hope it will shine.)
Shakespeare: If this be error, and upon me proved (if this is error).
Shakespeare: If this be error, and upon me proved (if this is error).
Byron : Though the heart be
still as loving (though the heart is)
C. When the infinitive is
be, the should is sometimes omitted:
He suggested
that a petition (should) be drawn up.
The infinitive thus
left alone becomes a subjunctive.
©
as if/as though +
past subjunctive
The past subjunctive can be used after as if/as though to indicate unreality or
improbability or doubt in the present
(there in no difference between as if and as though:
The past subjunctive can be used after as if/as though to indicate unreality or
improbability or doubt in the present
(there in no difference between as if and as though:
1.
He behaves as
if he
owned the place.
(But he
doesn’t own it or we don’t know whether he owns it or not).
2. He talks as though he new where she was.
(But doesn’t know or he probably doesn’t know )
(But doesn’t know or he probably doesn’t know )
3. He orders me about as
if I
were his wife.
(But I am not).
(But I am not).
©
The verbs preceding as
if/though can be put into a past tense
without changing the tense of the subjunctive:
without changing the tense of the subjunctive:
He talks/talked
as though he knew she was.
© After as if/as though
we use a past perfect when referring to a real or imaginary
action in the past:
He talks about Rome as though he had been there himself.
(But he hasn’t or probably hasn’t or we don’t know whether he has or not).
Again, the verb preceding as if/as though can be put into a past tense
without changing the tense of the subjunctive:
He looks/looked as though he hadn’t had a decent meal for a month.
action in the past:
He talks about Rome as though he had been there himself.
(But he hasn’t or probably hasn’t or we don’t know whether he has or not).
Again, the verb preceding as if/as though can be put into a past tense
without changing the tense of the subjunctive:
He looks/looked as though he hadn’t had a decent meal for a month.
¨ it is time + past subjunctive (unreal past)
¨ it is time can be followed by the infinitive:
It’s time to start
¨ or by for + object + infinitive:
It’s time for us to go
¨ or by subject + a past
subjunctive:
It’s time we went. It’s
time we were leaving.
There is a slight
difference in meaning between the forms.
1.
it is time + infinitive merely
states that the correct time has arrived;
2.
it is time + subject + past
subjunctive implies that it is a little
late.
high can be added to emphasize this
idea:
It’s
high time we left.
3.
it is time + I/she/he/it cannot be followed by were:
It’s
time I was going.
