What's the subjunctive mood?
The subjunctive mood is used in dependent clauses that do the following: 1)express a wish; 2) begin with if and express a condition that does not exist
(is contrary to fact); 3) begin with as if and as though when such clauses
describe a speculation or condition contrary to fact; and 4) begin with that
and express a demand, requirement, request, or suggestion. A new section on
the uses of the Conditional should help you understand the subjunctive.
a.. She wishes her boyfriend were here.
b.. If Juan were more aggressive, he'd be a better hockey player.
c.. We would have passed if we had studied harder.
d.. He acted as if he were guilty.
e.. I requested that he be present at the hearing.
The subjunctive is not as important a mood in English as it is in other
languages, like French and Spanish, which happen to be more subtle and
discriminating in hypothetical, doubtful, or wishful expressions. Many
situations which would require the subjunctive in other languages are
satisfied by using one of several auxiliary verbs in English.
A word about Mood.
Mood in verbs refers to one of three attitudes that a writer or speaker has
to what is being written or spoken. The indicative mood, which describes
most sentences on this page, is used to make a statement or ask a question.
The imperative mood is used when we're feeling sort of bossish and want to
give a directive, strong suggestion, or order:
a.. Get your homework done before you watch television tonight.
b.. Please include cash payment with your order form.
c.. Get out of town!
Notice that there is no subject in these imperative sentences. The pronoun
you (singular or plural, depending on context) is the \"understood subject\"
in imperative sentences. Virtually all imperative sentences, then, have a
second person (singular or plural) subject. The sole exception is the first
person construction, which includes an objective form as subject: \"Let's (or
Let us) work on these things together.\"
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