The subjunctive mood in English

– ah, subjunctive] here” instead of “I wish [present] she is [present indicative, but incorrect] here”.. Anthony Brooks correspondent, All Things Considered, National Public Radio USA 2

The subjunctive mood in English –

a guide to usage

Definitions

In the English language, verbs are used in contexts called moods

These verbal moods are:

• indicative – simple statement or question (Jill picks up the

ball.)

• imperative – a command (Jill, pick up the ball !)

• subjunctive – a statement contrary to fact, a wish, a

mandative statement (I request that Jill pick up the ball.)

There are varying definitions of the subjunctive in English

Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

defines subjunctive as “in grammar, designating or of that mood of

a verb used to express condition, hypothesis, contingency,

possibility, etc., rather than to state an actual fact: distinguished

from imperative, indicative.”

One important note: many scholars have dismissed the

persistence of the subjunctive in its unmarked form, that is, when it

is indistinguishable from the indicative “I wish you were here” and

“I wish they were here” are every bit in the subjunctive as “I wish she were here” Just because “you” and “they” take “were” in both moods does not negate the existence of the subjunctive Trust that

in the earlier days of English, when verbs were distinguished by inflection (e.g., different ending forms), the indicative and

subjunctive were quite distinct A hallmark of the subjunctive is that tenses are often mixed – one says “I wish [present] she were [past? – ah, subjunctive] here” instead of “I wish [present] she is [present indicative, but incorrect] here”

Learning by examples

Counterfactual statements

If I were you, then I would not do that.

I am not you, however, so I use the subjunctive to express this hypothetical or counterfactual condition Especially note that the

modern usage If I was you is completely incorrect.

If only she were here, then she would speak up.

She is not here, however, so the subjunctive expresses that fact

appropriately Again, If only she was has drifted into modern usage

and should be avoided

We should act as if he were watching.

We doubt that he is watching or know that he is not

It is as though she were here.

We know she is not here, but it seems so

Wishful statements

She wishes she were not here.

The modern usage She wishes she was is incorrect.

He wishes he had a hammer.

Without the subjuctive, this would be constructed in the indicative

as He wishes he has a hammer, but the indicative is incorrect.

I wish I knew.

This formulation is distinctly different the following indicative

statement: I wish I know (which makes no sense) The indicative is

inappropriate here

Conjunctive formulations

Do this now, lest you be harried later.

Lest typically takes the subjunctive.

He keeps the faith, though he face so many trials.

Here, though takes the subjunctive This sounds very pretentious.

Whether it be true, we shall proceed.

They like all dogs, be they large or small, short or tall,

For more information

Finney C E A (1999) Examples of the subjunctive mood in

English.

Harsh W (1968) The subjunctive in English (University,

Alabama: University of Alabama Press)

Hirtle W H (1964) The English present subjunctive CJL/RCL 9(2):

75-82

James F (1986) Semantics of the English

subjunctive (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, ISBN

0-7748-0255-3)

Khlebnikova I B (1976) The conjunctive mood in English (The

Hague: Mouton & Company, ISBN 90-2793-404-5)

Miscellaneous The English subjunctive: scholarly opinions

Övergaard G (1995) The mandative subjunctive in American

and British English in the 20th century (Uppsala: University of

Uppsala, ISBN 91-554-3675-5)

Turner J F (1980) The marked subjunctive in contemporary

English Studia Neophilologica 52: 271-277.

Examples of the subjunctive mood

in English Common expressions

These are sometimes termed formulaic subjunctives.

• if need be

• truth be told

• God bless [you | her | him | them | us every one]

• come what may

• [God | Heaven] forbid !

• perish the thought

• God save [the alpacas | the Queen | the King | our merry band]

• suffice it to say

Specific examples in different media

These examples are in reverse chronological order “Overheard” denotes examples overheard in conversation (I was not

eavesdropping, I just have active ears !), and “Conversation”

denotes uses by others in conversations in which I participated (to maintain privacy, some names have been omitted) Words in the

subjunctive are in bold; words associated with the subjunctive

are underlined My additions or modifying comments are placed in [square brackets]

I wish it were summer.

Subject line, email spam (2004-01-04)

It's important that our Judiciary be full.

George W Bush, President of the U.S (2002-05-09)

Hassan asks that a shaman abstract a talc cataplasm that can

thwart a blatant rash (raw scars that can scar a man's scalp and gall

a man's glans: scratch, scratch).

Christian Bök (2001) Eunoia, ISBN 1-55245-092-9, p 30.

The ultimate goal of the Arabs is that the distinction be made

News, National Public Radio (USA) (2001-01-19)

It's not really vital he be involved in this call.

Conversation (2001-04-03)

It seemed fated that the project take its name from the Scripture

celebrating renewal

Ed Marcum, The News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee) (2001-03-21)

If it were not for the pleadings of my granddaughter, you would be

dead already

If you weren't a Doone, I could almost like you.

From the movie, Lorna Doone (2000) (A&E, US television)

(2001-03-11)

If only the weather were this reliable.

Walgreens advertisement (US television) (2001-02-17)

Harris was determined that the film be authentic.

CBS Sunday Morning (US television) (2001-02-11)

After vehemently defending the procedures outlined in the many articles, KB's, and publications from MS regarding the best practices

of EFS use, I have come across some new information (to me,

anyway) which mandatesthat I consume a morsel of crow.

“Attonbitus Deus”, BugTraq (2001-01-30)

Growing up, my mother was so concerned that we not be brought

up as “cheap” Irish It was so important to my mother that

we be thought of as classic, “lace-curtain” Irish.

Conan O'Brien, Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2001-01-23)

I did not dictate to the President how he go about

Robert Ray, on This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie

Roberts (US television) (2001-01-21)

Lord help us

Sign in the inaugural procession for George Walker Bush 20)

(2001-01-– Dr Clive, this is hardly helpful

– Helpful be damned !

From the miniseries Horatio Hornblower, episode “Mutiny” or

“Retribution” (US television) (2001)

– I wish it were enough.

– If it were, then you wouldn't be the man I feel in love with.

From the series “Andromeda”, episode #108 “The Banks of the

Lethe” (US television) (2000-11-20)

This would be wise advice, if only the situation were like that

– if the job were done and it were time to relax If

only that were true! But challenges abound, and this is no time to

take the future for granted

— —

If “the job” really were done, if there were nothing at stake except

credit, perhaps it would be wiser to let the matter drop But we are not in that position

Richard Stallman, “By any other

name ”, commentary on AnchorDesk (2000-10-13)

The Gore campaign is eager that their candidate step out of the

shadows

Anthony Brooks (correspondent), All Things Considered, National

Public Radio (USA) (2000-08-15)

[“Their”, “its”, same difference ]

If that had failed, he would have urged that the matter be resolved

in a family court [approximate quotation]

Anthony Brooks (correspondent), All Things Considered, National

Public Radio (USA) (2000-04-25)

It is imperative that everyone play pianissimo during the spoken

monologue

From the series “Frasier” (US television) (2000-04-13)

We are adamant that that not happen

Conversation (2000-04-04)

Last year, North Carolina became the first to mandate its

police collect such data, and after being threatened with federal

investigations, New Jersey and Maryland reached agreements with the federal government ensuring that state troopers would no longerpull over cars based on the driver's skin color

Cheryl Corley (correspondent), All Things Considered, National Public

Radio (USA) (2000-03-30)

It is in the interest of the United States that Russia be a

democracy That is [essentially] a good thing

Strobe Talbot, US Deputy Secretary of State, interviewed on Morning

Edition, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-03-29)

They recommend he remain in jail for another six months until

the next review

Barbara Bradley (correspondent), All Things Considered, National

Public Radio (USA) (2000-03-27)

And that should put you to rest on any terrain, be it off road or on.

Jeep advertisement (US television) (2000-03-27)

He wishes he were us now.

Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Conan O'Brien (2000-02-15)

Apartment Sen William Lambeth II presented a bill that the

SGA request the university add the official abbreviation of campus

buildings – what students see in the timetable - to each building sign

“Useless bills”, lead editorial in The Daily Beacon (University of

Tennessee, Knoxville) (2000-01-27)

[Note that “request the university add” also is an instance of the

mandative subjunctive.]

Mendoza called the junta's action an effort to “prevent a

bloodbath” amid the Indians' revolt and asked that the military

officers who backed the uprising not be punished

“Vice president takes over power in Ecuador”, article on cnn.com (2000-01-22)

It is extremely urgent that we talk with you right now, sir.

From the series “The X-Files” (US television) (2000-01-16)

The court blocked an Immigration and Naturalization

Service order that the boy be returned to his father in Cuba.

News reader, All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA)

It's essential that my kids pitch in.

Marie Osmond, quoted in “Life is a matter of choices”, Parade

Magazine (2000-01-09)

According to a separate lawsuit, another Nichiei

employee demanded a debtor sell his daughter into prostitution.

A group of Albanians demanded that the U.N Mission in

Kosovo put its mascot stray dog, Unmik, to sleep because he is

“Serbian”

Chuck Shepherd, “News of the weird” (weekly syndicated

column), Metro Pulse (Knoxville, Tennessee), p 35 (2000-01-06)

Installing the server requires that an intruder first compromise a

machine by different means

CERT Advisory CA-99-17 Denial-of-Service Tools

(1999-12-28)

<http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-99-17-denial-of-service-tools.html>

YTcracker, a 17-year-old from Colorado Springs, Colo., said he routinely sends messages to government Web site

administrators insisting that they address vulnerabilities

and adopt Unix or other more secure systems, but the messages

largely go ignored

“Feds leave doors open for hackers”, article on cnn.com 22)

(1999-12-The deal requires that teachers join the union.

Claudio Sanchez (correspondent), All Things Considered, National

Public Radio (USA) (1999-12-20)

My holiday wish is that nobody go to Lou's Burritos.

Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1999-12)

It is very important that the charge nurse and the attending

physician work together throughout the shift.

Unknown (interview), “On the Inside”, on The Discovery Channel (UStelevision) (1999-12-01)

I was going to request that they [television sets] be turned down.

Conversation with Allison Miller (1999-12-01)

I requested that I stay near Knoxville.

Conversation with Allison Miller (1999-12-01)

At that time, he also set these parameters: that the obverse

design be of one or more women, that it not depict a living person, and that the design maintain a dignity befitting the nation's

coinage

The Golden Dollar Coin: Frequently Asked Questions, on-line

document from the U.S Mint (www.usmint.gov) (1999-11-24)

I would respectfully suggest that you keep to your cabin.

From the miniseries Horatio Hornblower, episode “The Duchess and

the Devil” (US television) (1999)

She said company lawyers also have demanded the Web

site be transferred to their authority.

Associated Press, printed in The News-Sentinel (Knoxville,

Tennessee), p D4 (1999-11-21)

I took all of the necessary information, but because of her attitude

I did not insist that we call for a police officer.

Letter to the syndicated column Smart Money, printed in The

News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee), p D2 (1999-11-21)

The car is programmed to respond sluggishly, the way it

might if the driver were indeed intoxicated.

Newscaster, WBIR-TV (Knoxville, Tennessee) (1999-11-20)

Albright was an attorney, but more importantly, he was a

conservationist, and a man who advocated that national

parks be spread all across the county to preserve and interpret

natural and cultural features and serve people

Coggins A (1999) Place Names of the Smokies, ISBN

0-937207-23-3, p 23

To deal with these problems of redundant and dual place names, the National Park Service and the U.S Board of Geographic

Names requested that a nomenclature committee be established in

each state

Coggins A (1999) Place Names of the Smokies, ISBN

0-937207-23-3, p 13

But if it weren't so big, it wouldn't be nearly so fun.

Commentator, ESPN (US television) (1999-11-20)

I was going to recommend that you buy a second-hand pickup

truck, a beater

Click (or Clack), Car Talk, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-11-20)

However, for your safety, we do require that you keep your seat

belt fastened at all times while seated

Flight attendant, Delta Airlines (1999-11-19)

I think it is very critical that Bill Bradley address those issues

which politicians have avoided

Unknown (interview), Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA)

(1999-11-15)

But Parks, upset over the group's “vulgarity and profanity,” is

suing for $25,000 and has asked that her name beremoved from all

OutKast products

“Rosa Parks sues OutKast”, article on cnn.com (1999-11-05)

Husbands, especially if there were a lot of property involved,

needed to know that their heirs were legitimate

Unknown (interview), “The History of Sex”, on The History Channel (US television) (1999-11-03)

Hadrian decreed that a new temple be built in the honor of Jupiter.

Unknown (interview), “The Great Empire: Rome”, on The History Channel (US television) (1999-11-03)

The FAA has since mandated that [this early-warning radar

system] never be disabled [approximate quotation]

Correspondent, All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA)

(1999-11-02)

However this plays in Knoxville, it seems calculated to play well in Nashville where additional state funding is essential lest the name of

the game at UT become Stop the Music.

Joe Sullivan, Metro Pulse (Knoxville, Tennessee), p 4 (1999-10-28).

Well, she has said that the top priority of the tribunal is that

Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic and that the Bosnian Serb leaders

[names unspellable] be arrested and brought to the Hague.

Sylvia Poggioli, Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA)

(1999-10-27)

I just wish it were easier to use !

Clorox advertisement (US television) (1999-10-26)

[Why cannot Toyota and Kodak follow Clorox's example ? See below.]

I am rather anxious that she discuss this with me soon.

Conversation (1999-10-25)

That would have been a huge win, if they were able to pull it off.

Commentator, ESPN (US television) (1999-10-23)

[Compare the common usage, “if they had been able”.]

It is important that he tell the truth now, lest he be doubted later.

Conversation (1999-10-19)

It is imperative that we eat soon.

Conversation with Allison Miller (1999-10-16)

The ability to find loopholes in a system, be they mathematical,

systematical, or procedural, is vital to a cryptographer

Bruce Schneier, “CRYPTO-GRAM” (monthly email newsletter) 10-15)

(1999-We would prefer, I'm sure, some form of representative

government be installed in the next couple of days.

Howard Schaffer of Georgetown University, All Things Considered,

National Public Radio (USA) (1999-10-13)

Political correctness is a threat to free speech because special interest groups are not content just to put forth their views,

but demand that the opposing view be silenced

John Sopinka, Canadian Supreme Court Justice, cited on WWW

(1999-10-13)

If modern business people weren't able to hold a drink, grab a

bite, shake hands and extract a business card all at the same time, the commercial world would grind to a halt

Judith Martin, Miss Manners column (1999-10-10)

A sniper would be almost immediately killed if he were captured.

Unknown (interview), “Suicide Missions: Sniper”, on The History Channel (US television) (1999-10-05)

Any transform, be it monotonic or nonmonotonic, of a

Fourier-transform surrogate should be [temporally] reversible

Conversation (1999-10-05)

I was suggesting that we sit down for a while and discuss this.

Conversation (1999-10-05)

My concern is that we make sure we're consistent, so that we can

use each other's libraries

Conversation (1999-10-05)

Arafat asked that Palestinian police chief Ghazi Jabali be allowed

to travel from Gaza to the West Bank town of Ramallah to attend his father's funeral

Linda Gradstein, Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA)

(1999-10-04)

It was very critical that everything be done on time.

Tour guide, Biltmore House and Gardens, Asheville, North Carolina (1999-09-30)

Custom dictates that the prize date be announced just days in

advance

“Early Nobel announcement prompts speculation”, article on

cnn.com (1999-09-29)

For our sorority fundraiser, I proposed that we run a series of

sports betting pools

Conversation (1999-09-29)

The group with the most votes, whether it be the university

community or health care professionals, will win

“Right to vote”, lead editorial in The Daily Beacon (University of

Tennessee, Knoxville) (1999-09-29)

[Next lesson: hyphenation of compound modifiers (health-care

professionals)]

Giuliani demanded the Brooklyn Museum cancel the exhibition;

the museum refused

Brooke Gladstone, Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA)

(1999-09-29)

It is imperative that we keep this confidential.

From the movie, Highway 9

But director John Tiernan insisted that she lose her pleasing

personality and get more in touch with her sensuality.

People, p 105 (1999-09-13)

he also suggested to the board that a business

manager be hired to help things run more smoothly.

Metro Pulse (Knoxville, Tennessee), p 7 (1999-09-02).

It turns out that thermoneutral is 84 degrees [Fahrenheit], but

that's if you're naked So if we lived in a society where everyone

was naked, or everyone were naked, perhaps I should say, then 84 degrees would be our chosen temperature for at least sitting aroundinside an office

Joe Palca, Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-07-07)

[He falsely corrected himself, thinking of the subjunctive

hypothetical phrase earlier in the sentence Radio talk often

precludes real-time correction “If we lived (but we don't)” is in the subjunctive; he probably was thinking “If everyone were naked (but they're not)”.]

It is very crucial that we make it successful.

Co-owner and Tea Taster, Charleston Tea Plantation, CNN Headline News (1999-04-24)

Were I he,

Overheard (1999-01-28)

[Bless you, sir ! This is much better than, “If I was him, ”]