The Subjunctive Mood

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General information
The Subjunctive shows either a possible action or
unreality, improbability, something contrary to the
fact.
The Subjunctive has two forms:
1. Synthetic Subjunctive
a) Present Tense
b) Past Tense
b)1. Past Subjunctive
b)2. Past Perfect Subjunctive
2. Analytic Subjunctive ± shall/ should/ would/ may/
might/ could+ Present/ Perfect Infinitive (much
more frequently used than the Synthetic
Subjunctive)
The Present Subjunctive
Form of the Synthetic Subjunctive, it is identical to the Short
Infinitive. It occurs in formal, informal and American English. It
is used:
1. To express wishes or set expectations (Formulaic Subjunctive):
Long j the Queen!
it to say that he left!

you!
If need we¶ll call him back.
2. In subordinate that- clauses when the main clause expresses a
desire, a demand, a requirement, an obligation, a necessity
(Mandative Subjunctive):
In direct object clauses, after verbs such as

:
He urged that he
and j
carefully.
In Subject clauses after such impersonal constructions as: it is
necessary/ advisable/ possible/ impossible a.s.o.:
It is necessary that your friend there first.
In appositive attributive clauses
They made the suggestion that our cousin and j
everything.
The Past Subjunctive
Form of the Synthetic Subjunctive, The Past Subjunctive is identical
to the Past Tense of the verb. For the verb | , the form
is used especially in written English. It is used:
In Conditional Clauses, to express a Present Conditional. This
form denotes unreality, not time:
The children will like this film if they it.
if I you, I would try to talk to her.
After wish, it¶s (high) time, as if/though, would rather/sooner
(with different subjects), suppose (that)
I wish I were at the seaside.
It¶s (high) time + For+ object+ Lon Infinitive= the correct time to
act.
It¶s (high) time for you to understand this problem.
It¶s (high) time+ Past Subjunctive= it¶s already a little late to act.
It¶s (high) time you understood this problem.
If the subject of would rather/ sooner is also the subject of the action
which follows, the would rather/ sooner construction is followed
by Short Infinitive.
My sister would rather/ sooner at home today than to the
theatre.
The Past Perfect
Subjunctive
Form of the Synthetical Subjunctive, it has
the same form as the Past Perfect Tense. It
is used:
In Conditional clauses to express a Past
Conditional:
I would have bought that book if I Y

it.
After wish (to express a regretted action in
the past), as if/though and even if/though:
I wish you Y
that.
Even if/ though I Y

the truth, I
wouldn¶t have told you the truth.
Shall+ Infinitive
Form of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is
used:
In main clauses:
Yjj I Yj you with your homework?
(=Do you want me to help you?)
In subordinate clauses (less used in
spoken English):
They have decided that you Yjj
home.(= you must go)
Should + Infinitive
Form of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is used:
In main clauses:
Why Y j Y come in that early? (why is it necessary for them to come?)
In subordinate clauses:
a) Subject Clauses following impersonal constructions like: it is/was
important/ necessary/ natural, surprising/ advisable:
It¶s necessary that you Y jpresent.
b) Conditional clauses (to underline the hypothetical nature of the action)
If she Y j , what would you tell her?
c) Direct object clauses, after such verbs as to demand, to insist, to
command, to propose, to request, to suggest a.s.o.
They suggested that you Y jjjthem the truth.
d) Subordinate clauses of purpose, introduced by lest, for feat (that), in case:
We left in a hurry, lest she Y jus there.
e) Appositive attributive clauses:
His desire that no one Y j
that room surprised us.
f) Concessive clauses introduced by though, although, whatever:
Whatever she Y j, don¶t contradict her.
May/ Might + Infinitive
Form of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is used:
In main clauses to express a wish:
May all your dreams come true!
Oh, that they might win this match!
In subordinate clauses
a) In subject clauses introduced by it is/ was possible/ probable/ likely:
It is possible that she today.
It is probable that they might have known you.
b) In subordinate clauses of purpose introduced by that, in order that, so
that:
He took the seat in the front row so that/ in order that he YYthe
actors well.
c) Concessive clauses introduced by though, although, however, whatever, no
matter:
However painful it Y, you must know the truth.
No matter how expensive the car Y, I still want to buy it.
Would + Infinitive
Form of the Analytic Subjunctive, it is
used:
a) In Direct object clauses after wish ,
to express a possible action:
They Y we jthem a visit.
b) In Subordinate clauses of purpose
She learnt all the new words so that
she jj translate the
text.
Could + Infinitive
Form of the Analytic Subjunctive, this
construction is used to express
purpose as an alternative to may/
might.
The Could + Infinitive has, in this
case, a higher degree of certainty.
She studied a lot so that she j
the exam.
iibliography
Paidos, Constantin, O
j Y
|Y

iucuresti, Editura Polirom, 2004.

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