subjunctive subjunctive

The subjunctive in English

The subjunctive in Modern English is easily distinguished in a great variety of contexts where the sense is past tense, but the form of the subjunctive verb required is present: "It was required that we go to the back of the line." Were it not subjunctive, the form of "to go" for something in the past would have been went. Compare with the non-subjunctive: "Everyone knows that we went to the back of the line."

	Present indicative	Present subjunctive	Past indicative	Past subjunctive
to own (regular verb)	I own he/she/it owns we/you/they own	I own he/she/it own we/you/they own	I owned he/she/it owned we/you/they owned	I owned he/she/it owned we/you/they owned
to be	I am he/she/it is we/you/they are	I be he/she/it be we/you/they be	I was he/she/it was we/you/they were	I were he/she/it were we/you/they were

As shown in the above table, the form of the subjunctive is distinguishable from the indicative in only three circumstances:

1. in the third person singular of the present tense,
2. with the verb to be in the present tense, and
3. in the first person singular and third person singular of verb to be in the past tense.

The modal auxiliaries do not have present subjunctive forms.

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 second-person singular of all verbs. For example: indicative thou sattest, but subjunctive thou sat.

Nevertheless, in some texts in which the pronoun thou is used a final -est or -st is sometimes added; for example, thou beest appears frequently in the work of Shakespeare and some of his contemporaries.

Present and past subjunctive

The terms present subjunctive and past subjunctive can be misleading, as they describe forms rather than meanings: the past and present subjunctives are so called because they resemble the past and present indicatives, respectively, but the difference between them is a difference in modality, not a temporal one.

For example, in "I asked that it be done yesterday," be done (a present subjunctive) has no present-tense sense; and likewise, in "If that were true, I'd know it," were (a past subjunctive) has no past-tense sense.

The pluperfect subjunctive

Since the "past subjunctive" is not a true past tense, it uses as its past tense what is structurally its perfect aspect form. This past tense is known as the past perfect subjunctive or pluperfect subjunctive; it is formed using had (the past subjunctive of to have) plus the verb's past participle.

The pluperfect subjunctive is used like the past subjunctive, except that it expresses a past-tense sense. So, for example:

• If I had known (yesterday), I would have done something about it.
• If I had seen you, I definitely would have said hello.
• I wouldn't be here if he hadn't helped me.

When used in the construction of a counterfactual statement as in the examples above, it is paired with the conditional perfect viz. "If I had [not] X, then I would [not] have Y". The (arguably) canonical example of the counterfactual actually eschews the pluperfect subjunctive: If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake. This should, of course, be If I Had Known… .

If a clause is in a past tense, then a clause subordinate to it cannot be in the past subjunctive, though it might be in the pluperfect subjunctive; however, if it is in a present tense, then a clause subordinate to it might be in either of the two, depending on meaning.

The pluperfect subjunctive is often replaced with the past subjunctive in colloquial speech, a substitution that is commonly considered incorrect. (See prescription and description.)

(Note that by contrast, the present perfect subjunctive — that he have done — while logically and theoretically possible, is not much used in modern English.)

Future subjunctive

A future subjunctive can be constructed using the conjugated form of the verb "to be" plus the infinitive or with the usage of the modal auxiliary verb "should". Note that the "were" clauses result in the present conditional, while the "should" clauses result in the future indicative. For example:

· If I were to die tomorrow, then you would inherit everything.

· If you were to give the money to me, then I would say no more about it.

· If I should go, then will you feed the hens?

· If he should fall, who will carry the flag in his place?

Construction by inversion

Where the subjunctive is used after “if” in a counterfactual condition (see below), the same effect can be achieved by omitting the “if” and inverting the verb and subject.

· If I were the President... / Were I the President...

· If he had a car with him... / Had he a car with him...

Construction using a modal verb

The subjunctive mood can be expressed using the modal verbs shall (should) and may (might).

· Should the teacher come, I will speak with him.

· (May) the Lord bless you and keep you.

· He wrote it in his diary so that he might remember.

The word would (the past tense of "will") can also be used for the past (for example, "He wrote it in his diary so that he would remember"), but it cannot be used in the present or future tense ("Would the teacher come, I will speak with him" is incorrect and confusing).

Usage

As well as being preserved in fossilized phrases, the subjunctive is used in English to express a command, desire, hypothesis, purpose, doubt, or supposition.

Set phrases

The subjunctive is used in a number of fixed phrases, relics from an older form of the language where it was much more common. Some could be misconstrued as the imperative mood. Common examples are:

· if need be

· as it were

· if I were you; were I you

· be that as it may

· (May God) bless you!

· come Monday (Tuesday, etc.)

· come what may

· (May God) damn it!

· far be it from (or for) me

· till death do us part

· God save our gracious Queen, God bless America, God keep our land glorious and free, God rest ye merry gentlemen, etc.

To express a command, request, or suggestion

Content clauses expressing commands, requests, or suggestions commonly use the present subjunctive; such a clause may be introduced by a verb like propose, suggest, recommend, move (in the parliamentary sense), demand, or mandate, by an adjective like imperative, important, adamant, or necessary, or by a noun like insistence or proposal.

This use of the subjunctive is known as the mandative subjunctive or the jussive subjunctive and is said to be the most common use of the subjunctive in English.^[1] Other authorities say this use is much less common than that in suppositions or hypotheses (e.g. "If she asked for help, I'd help her.") and is often not found in UK English, even in respected news media.

Instead, UK English often uses present indicative or even past indicative − which are both considered incorrect by many people in the UK and (prescriptive) UK authorities on language usage − or a construction with "should". Much time is spent in the UK in trying to prevent this language change well underway in UK English, and the use with "should" is arguably better because not considered as ungrammatical by most. So instead of writing No wonder the Tory Party turned him down as a possible candidate, suggesting he went away and came back with a better public image. as in the Guardian (which would be almost impossible to find in any US newspapers, which would always use the traditional go away and come back), it would be considered less ungrammatical to use should go away. Some authorities like Ernest Gowers even recommend the use with should (in UK English) instead of the untenable traditional forms.^[2]

Note that the present subjunctive is used in these cases regardless of the actual time reference (which must be conveyed by the tense of the main verb):

• I move(d) that the bill be put to a vote.
• I ask(ed) that he be shown mercy.
• It is (or was) necessary that we not forget our instructions.
• Her insistence that he leave seems (or seemed) rude.

Some of these words have two senses: one that introduces a clause in the indicative, and one that introduces a clause in the subjunctive. For example, insist can mean assert forcefully and persistently, in which case it introduces the indicative (He insisted that he was innocent), or it can mean demand forcefully and persistently, in which case it introduces the subjunctive (He insisted that he be given the chance to prove it). This use is typically North American English. The verb in such constructions is sometimes mistakenly believed to be a sort of infinitive, contributing to the notion of the dying subjunctive.

Sometimes the verb of a main clause can be in the subjunctive mood, without any explicit word like the above; this carries the force of a third-person request. This is the usage found in many set expressions, such as God bless you.

· America, America, God shed His grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood ("America the Beautiful")

· God save our gracious Queen

To express a wish

The past subjunctive is used after the verb to wish: I wish he were here or I wished he were there. This use of the subjunctive is sometimes known as the "volitional" subjunctive:

· Oh I wish I were in the land of cotton.

To express a hypothesis

The past subjunctive is used after the conjunction if in a contrary-to-fact protasis. For example:

· If I were a millionaire, I would buy a sports car.

· If he had a car with him, he could drive us there.

· If I were a rich man...

In the same vein, the past subjunctive is used following the conjunctions as if and as though to express a contrary-to-fact situation that reality is supposed to resemble:

· She looked as though she were going to kill him, but after glaring for a bit, she just stormed off.

· He tried to explain it — as if he knew anything about the subject!

Note that the past subjunctive is sometimes used in expressing situations that are not necessarily contrary to fact:

· ? I'm torn; if I were to go with choice A, I'd be better off in the short term, but if I were to go with choice B, I might be better off in the long term.

· ? Bring an umbrella; looks as if it were going to rain soon.

To express a purpose

The conjunction lest, indicating a negative purpose, generally introduces a subjunctive clause:

· I eat lest I die.

· I'll place the book back on the shelf, lest it get lost.

The conjunction in order that, indicating a positive purpose, also sometimes introduces a subjunctive clause, though it more commonly introduces a clause using the auxiliary verb may (or in the past tense, might):

· I'm 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.

To express a doubt or supposition

The subjunctive is sometimes used after other conjunctions to express doubt or supposition, although this usage is nowadays more often replaced by the indicative.

· I will not let thee go, except [=unless] thou bless me. (Genesis 32:26)

· Murder, though it have no tongue, will speak.

· Whoever he be, he shall not go unpunished.

· But [=although] he were dead, yet shall he live. (New Testament)

Hypercorrect usage

The subjunctive has sometimes been used simply as a conditioned variant that follows "if" and similar words even in the absence of a hypothetical situation.

· Johnny asked me if I were afraid. (Barbara in Night of the Living Dead (1968))

In the example quoted, "if" is a substitute for the unambiguous word "whether" ("Johnny asked me whether I was afraid"), and lacks the usual, "in the event that" meaning that it has in other usage such as "If we go to bed now, we'll be up at three o'clock".

Demise of the subjunctive

In many dialects of English, the indicative can take the place of the subjunctive, although this is considered erroneous in formal speech and writing. The similarity of the subjunctive and the past tense has led to the confusion between the two, and the error is evident in various pop culture references and music lyrics.

· If I was President...

· If he was a ghost...

· If I was a rich girl...

However, in the context of the examples above, inversion cannot occur with the indicative as it would with the subjunctive; the following are ungrammatical, except insofar as they could be misinterpreted as questions:

· Was I the President...

· Was he a ghost...

Furthermore, many of the fossil phrases are often re-analyzed as imperative forms rather than as the subjunctive.

According to the Random House College Dictionary, "Although the subjunctive seems to be disappearing from the speech of many, its use is still the mark of the educated speaker."^[3]

The subjunctive is not uniform in all varieties of spoken English. However it is preserved in speech, at least in North American English and in many dialects of British English. While use of the subjunctive in natural, informal speech is almost universal among educated speakers, its use is becoming very infrequent among large portions of the population. Some dialects replace it with the indicative or construct it using a modal verb (except perhaps in the most formal literary discourse).

Through the years, some have advocated the formal extinguishment of the subjunctive. W. Somerset Maugham said, "The subjunctive mood is in its death throes, and the best thing to do is to put it out of its misery as soon as possible."^[4]

Conditional sentence

In grammar, conditional sentences are sentences discussing factual implications or hypothetical situations and their consequences. Languages use a variety of conditional constructions and verb forms (such as the conditional mood) to form these kinds of sentences.

Full conditional sentences contain two clauses: the condition or protasis, and the consequence or apodosis.

If it rains [condition], (then) the picnic will be cancelled [consequence].

Syntactically, the result is the main clause, and the condition is a subordinate clause. It is primarily the properties of the protasis (condition) (tense and degree of factualness), however, that determine the properties of the entire sentence.

Conditional sentences in Latin

Conditional sentences in Latin are traditionally classified into three categories, based on grammatical structure.

• simple conditions (factual or logical implications)
• present tense [if present indicative then indicative]
• past tense [if perfect/imperfect indicative then indicative]
• future conditions
• "future more vivid" [if future indicative then future indicative]
• "future less vivid" [if present subjunctive then present subjunctive]
• contrafactual conditions
• "present contrary-to-fact" [if imperfect subjunctive then imperfect subjunctive]
• "past contrary-to-fact" [if pluperfect subjunctive then pluperfect subjunctive]

Conditional sentences in English

English conditional sentences can be divided into two broad classes, depending on the form of the verb in the condition (protasis). The terms "realis" and "irrealis" broadly correspond to the notions of realis and irrealis modality.

Realis conditions

In these constructions, the condition clause expresses a condition the truth of which is unverified. The verb in the condition clause is in the past tense (with a past tense interpretation) or in the present tense (with a present or future tense interpretation). The result clause can be in the past, present, or future. Generally, conditional sentences of this group are in two groups, the "zero" conditional and the potential or indicative conditional. This class includes universal statements (both clauses in the present, or both clauses in the past) and predictions.

The "zero" conditional is formed with both clauses in the present tense. This construction is similar across many languages. It is used to express a certainty, a universal statement, a law of science, etc.:

If you heat water to 100 degrees celsius, it boils.

If you don't eat for a long time, you become hungry.

If the sea is stormy, the waves are high.

It is different from true conditionals because the introductory "if" can be replaced by "when" or "whenever" (e.g., "When you heat water..."), which cannot be done for true conditionals.

The potential or indicative conditional (sometimes referred to as a "first" conditional) is used more generally to express a hypothetical condition that is potentially true, but not yet verified. The conditional clause is in the present or past tense and refers to a state or event in the past. The result can be in the past, present, or future. Some examples with the condition clause in the past tense:

If she took that flight yesterday, she arrived at 10pm.

If she took that flight yesterday, she is somewhere in town today.

If she took that flight yesterday, we'll see her tomorrow.

A condition clause (protasis) in the present tense refers to a future event, a current event which may be true or untrue, or an event which could be verified in the future. The result can be in the past, present, or future:

If it's raining here now, then it was raining on the West Coast this morning.

If it's raining now, then your laundry is getting wet.

If it's raining now, there will be mushrooms to pick next week.

If it rains this afternoon, then yesterday's weather forecast was wrong.

If it rains this afternoon, your garden party is doomed.

If it rains this afternoon, everybody will stay home.

If I become President, I'll lower taxes.

Certain modal auxiliary verbs (mainly will, may, might, and could) are not used in the condition clause (protasis) in English:

*If it will rain this afternoon, …

*If it may have rained yesterday, …

In colloquial English, the imperative is sometimes used to form a conditional sentence: e.g. "go eastwards a mile and you'll see it" means "if you go eastwards a mile, you will see it".

Irrealis conditions

In these constructions, the condition clause expresses a condition that is known to be false, or presented as unlikely. The result clause contains a conditional verb form consisting of would (or could, should, might) plus an infinitival main verb.

The contrary-to-fact present conditional (sometimes referred to as the "second" conditional) is used to refer to a current state or event that is known to be false or improbable. The past subjunctive (or in colloquial English, simply the past tense) must be used:

If she were [colloq. was] at work today, she would know how to deal with this client.

If I were [colloq. was] king, I could have you thrown in the dungeon.

The same structure can be used to refer to a future state or event:

If I won the lottery, I would buy a car.

If he said that to me, I would run away.

In many cases, when referring to future events, the difference between a realis and irrealis conditional is very slight:

(realis) If you leave now, you can still catch your train.

(irrealis) If you left now, you could still catch your train.

The contrary-to-fact past conditional (sometime referred to as the "third" conditional) is used to refer to contrary-to-fact past events. The pluperfect (or past perfect) is used in the condition clause.

If you had called me, I would have come.

If you had done your job properly, we wouldn't be in this mess now.

Note that would-conditional forms are not usually used in the condition clause in English: *If you would leave now, you would be on time. There are exceptions, however: If you would listen to me once in a while, you might learn something. Some varieties of English regularly use would have in the protasis for past reference, although this is considered non-standard: If you would've told me, we could've done something about it.

Should can appear in the condition clause to refer to a future event presented as possible, but unlikely, undesirable, or otherwise "remote": If I should die before I wake, …, If you should ever find yourself in such a situation, …

Dependent words

A dependent clause usually begins with a dependent word. One kind of dependent word is a subordinating conjunction. Subordinating conjunctions are used to begin dependent clauses known as adverbial clauses which act like adverbs. In the following examples, the adverbial clauses are bold and the subordinating conjunctions are italicized:

• Wherever she goes, she leaves a piece of luggage behind. (The adverbial clause wherever she goes modifies the verb leaves.)

• Bob enjoyed the movie more than I did. (The adverbial clause than I did modifies the adverb more.)

Another type of dependent word is the relative pronoun. Relative pronouns begin dependent clauses known as adjective clauses, which act like adjectives, or noun clauses, which act like nouns. In the following examples, the dependent clauses are bold and the relative pronouns are italicized:

• The only one of the seven dwarfs who does not have a beard is Dopey. (The adjective clause who does not have a beard describes the noun one.)

• No one understands why experience is something you don't get until just after you need it. (The noun clause why experience is something you don't get until just after you need it functions as a direct object.)

Dependent clauses are classified further into:

1. Noun clause
2. Adverbial clause
3. Adjective clause

Noun clause

A noun clause is always a clause that can be used in the same way as a noun, adjective, verb, or pronoun. It can be a subject, predicate nominative, direct object, appositive, indirect object, or object of the preposition. Some of the words that introduce noun clauses are that, whether, who, why, whom, what, how, when, whoever, where, and whomever. Notice that some of these words also introduce adjective and adverbial clauses. (To check a noun clause substitute the pronoun it or the proper form of the pronouns he or she for the noun clause.) Examples:

• I know who said that. (I know it.)
• Whoever said it is wrong. (He is wrong.)

Sometimes a noun clause is used without the introductory word. Example:

• I know that he is here. (I know he is here.)

Adjective clause

An adjective clause—also called an adjectival or relative clause—will meet three requirements. First, it will contain a subject and verb. Next, it will begin with a relative pronoun [who, whom, whose, that, or which] or a relative adverb [when, where, or why]. Finally, it will function as an adjective, answering the questions What kind? How many? or Which one? The adjective clause will follow one of these two patterns:

• Relative Pronoun [or Relative Adverb] + Subject + Verb = Incomplete Thought
• Relative Pronoun [Functioning as Subject] + Verb = Incomplete Thought

Examples include:

• Whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie
• Whose = relative pronoun | eyes = subject | pleaded = verb

• Why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie
• Why = relative adverb | Fred = subject | can stand = verb [not, an adverb, is not officially part of the verb]

• That bounced onto the kitchen floor
• That = relative pronoun functioning as subject | bounced = verb

• Who hiccuped for seven hours afterward
• Who = relative pronoun functioning as subject | hiccuped = verb

• Grim, who took Hissy's life, went away to the underworld.

Fragments

In formal English grammar, sentence fragments are typically avoided. Since an adjective clause does not express a complete thought, it cannot stand alone as a sentence.^[1] Writers who want to avoid sentence fragments must connect each adjective clause to a main clause. In the examples below, notice that the adjective clause follows the word that it describes.

• Diane felt manipulated by her beagle Santana, whose big, brown eyes pleaded for another cookie.

• Chewing with her mouth open is one reason why Fred cannot stand sitting across from his sister Melanie.

• Growling ferociously, Oreo and Skeeter, my two dogs, competed for the hardboiled egg that bounced onto the kitchen tile.

• Laughter erupted from Annamarie, who hiccuped for seven hours afterward.

Punctuation

Punctuating adjective clauses can be problematic. For each sentence, the writer will have to decide if the adjective clause is essential or nonessential and use commas accordingly. Essential clauses do not require commas. An adjective clause is essential when the information it contains is relevant to the overall message. For example:

• The vegetables that people often leave uneaten are usually the most nutritious.

Vegetables is nonspecific. To know which ones we are talking about, we must have the information in the adjective clause. Thus, the adjective clause is essential and requires no commas. If, however, we eliminate vegetables and choose a more specific noun instead, the adjective clause becomes nonessential and does require commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence. Read the correct form:

• Broccoli, which people often leave uneaten, is very nutritious.

Adverbial clause

"He saw Mary when he was in New York" and "They studied hard because they had a test" both contain adverbial clauses (in italics). Adverbial clauses express when, why, opposition and conditions and are dependent clauses. This means that an adverbial clause can not stand by itself - in other words, "When he went to New York." is not a complete sentence. It needs to be completed by an independent clause. Example:

• He went to the Guggenheim museum when he was in New York.

Dependent clauses and sentence structure

A sentence with an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses is referred to as a complex sentence. One with two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses is referred to as a compound-complex sentence.

• My sister cried because she scraped her knee. (complex sentence)
• Subjects: My sister, she
• Predicates: cried, scraped her knee
• Subordinating conjunction: because

• When they told me I won the contest, I cried, but I didn't faint. **(compound-complex sentence)
• Subjects: they, I, I, I
• Predicates: told me, won the contest, cried, didn't faint
• Subordinating conjunctions: When, that (understood)
• Coordinating conjunction: but

The above sentence actually contains two dependent clauses. "When they told me" is one; the other is "(that) I won the contest." The "that" is understood to precede the "I won" and functions as a subordinating conjunction.

Non-finite dependent clauses

Dependent clauses may be headed by an infinitive or other non-finite verb form. In these cases, the subject of the dependent clause may take a non-nominative form. Examples:

• I want him to vanish.
• I saw you wandering around.

"But" redirects here. For other uses, see BUT.

In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, phrases or clauses together. This definition may overlap with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a "conjunction" should be defined for each language. In general, a conjunction is an invariable grammatical particle, and it may or may not stand between the items it conjoins. The definition can also be extended to idiomatic phrases that behave as a unit with the same function as a single-word conjunction (e.g., as well as, provided that).

Conditionals >> First conditional

Structure of first conditional
If I see him, I'll (I will) tell him.	If you don't hurry, you'll miss the bus.	What will you do if there is a problem?

First conditional - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
If you will go to England, you will improve your English.	If you go to England, you will improve your English.	We use present simple in the if-clause.
If I find his address, I send him the letter.	If I find his address, I will send him the letter.	The main clause has will, which expresses certainty in the future.
I'll tell him as soon as I will see him.	I'll tell him as soon as I see him.	We use present simple in the if-clause.

Structure of second conditional
If I had more time, I'd (I would) travel more.	I wouldn't (would not) refuse if you offered me $10,000.	What would you say if you met Queen Elizabeth?

Second conditional - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
If I would have enough money, I would buy a new computer.	If I had enough money, I would buy a new computer.	We use the past simple (I had) in the if-clause when we are talking about something which is unlikely to happen or an imaginary situation.
If you didn't hurry so much, you will feel more relaxed.	If you didn't hurry so much, you would feel more relaxed.	The main clause has would + infinitive.

Structure of third conditional
If I'd (I had) known you were coming, I would've (would have) waited for you.	If she hadn't been ill, she would have gone to the cinema.	Would you have done it if you'd (you had) known earlier?

Third conditional - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
If I would have asked him, he would have helped me.	If I had asked him, he would have helped me.	In the if-clause we use the past perfect (had + past participle).
If you had spoken to my mother, she would tell you where I was.	If you had spoken to my mother, she would have told you where I was.	The main clause has would + have + past participle.

Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form in English.

Structure of the Subjunctive

The structure of the subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs except the past tense of be, the subjunctive is the same as the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"):

be (past)	be (present)	all other verbs (past & present)
I were you were he, she, it were we were you were they were	I be you be he, she, it be we be you be they be	I work you work he, she, it work we work you work they work

The subjunctive does not change according to person (I, you, he etc).

Use of the Subjunctive

We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

• wants to happen
• hopes will happen
• imagines happening

Look at these examples:

• The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
• It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
• If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.

The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:

• the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest + that
• the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that

Here are some examples with the subjunctive:

• The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
• The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
• It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
• It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.

Notice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the same. It does not matter whether the sentence is past or present. Look at these examples:

• Present: The President requests that they stop the occupation.
• Past: The President requested that they stop the occupation.

• Present: It is essential that she be present.
• Past: It was essential that she be present.

The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in American English than in English, where should + infinitive is often used: The manager insists that the car park should be locked at night. It was essential that we should vote as soon as possible.

We usually use the subjunctive were instead of "was" after if (and other words with similar meaning). Look at these sentences:

• If I were you, I would ask her.
• Suppose she were here. What would you say?

Why do we say "I were", "he were"?

We sometimes hear things like "if I were you, I would go" or "if he were here, he would tell you". Normally, the past tense of the verb "to be" is: I was, he was. But the if I were you structure does not use the past simple tense of the verb "to be". It uses the past subjunctive of the verb "to be". In the following examples, you can see that we often use the subjunctive form were instead of "was" after:

• if
• as if
• wish
• suppose

Formal (The were form is correct at all times.)	Informal (The was form is possible in informal, familiar conversation.)
If I were younger, I would go.	If I was younger, I would go.
If he weren't so mean, he would buy one for me.	If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one for me.
I wish I weren't so slow!	I wish I wasn't so slow!
I wish it were longer.	I wish it was longer.
It's not as if I were ugly.	It's not as if I was ugly.
She acts as if she were Queen.	She acts as if she was Queen.
If I were you, I should tell her.	Note: We do not normally say "if I was you", even in familiar conversation.

Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive. Here are some examples:

• Long live the King!
• God bless America!
• Heaven forbid!
• Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
• Come what may, I will never forget you.
• We are all citizens of the world, as it were

subjunctive

Have : menyuruh

Get : menyakinkan

Let : mengizinkan

Make : Memaksa

Causative active

S + Causative Verb + Obj + V1

Have

Let

Make

Example :

1. A. Rani refuses to take the medicine. (make)

B. I’II make her take the medicine

2. I am going to have Marno type this letter.

Complete the following dialogues !

1. A. Bob is playing with the typewriter. (let)

B. It doesn’t matter. I let him…………………….

2. A. John is watching television again. (let)

B. I let him………………………………………..

3. A. Rita refuses to wash her clothes. (make)

B. Please make her ………………………………

4. A. Please tell Andi to turn down the radio. (have)

B. All right. I’ll have him ………………………..

5. A. Lisa doesn’t want to study her lessons. (make)

B. Well, I’ll make her ……………………………

Causative Passive

S + Causative Verb + Openderita + V3 + by O2

Have

Get

Example :

A : Get she to clean the room.

P : I get the room clened by her.

Complete these sentences!

1. I caught him ……….(open) your latter.
2. He saw me ………. (cross) the road.
3. I found the back door ……….(unlock)
4. You will find the walls ………. (paint) white.
5. We felt the house ……… (shake) strongly.

Nama : Wahyu Wijiastutik C.

Kelas : XII IPA 1

Subjunctive

1. Wish

Present tense : S1 + Wish + S2 + V2/were

Past tense : S1 + Wished + S2 + had + V3

Example :

* Ayu wish a train come late.

A train don’t come on time.

* I wish I could play tennis.

I cannot play tennis.

2. Would rather

S1 + Would rather + S2 + V2/were

Example :

* We wish had helped you with the difficulties.

We would rather he had helped you with the difficulties.

* He would rather she on time.

He doesn’t come on time.

3. If only

Present tense : If only + S + V2

Past tense : S1 + If only + S2 + had + V3

Example :

* If only she knew about the screet.

She doesn’t know about the screet.

* If only he were a tescher.

He is not a teacher.

A. Supply appropriate completions in the following sentence.

1. I didn’t go shopping.

I wish I ……….shopping

2. It’s cold today. I’m not wearing a coat.

I wish I ………………………………a coat.

3. You didn’t tell me about it.

I wish you …………………………..how to dance.

4. The teacher will to give an exam tomorrow.

I wish the teacher …………………… give us an exam tomorrow.

5. Patricia cannot come to dinner with us tonight.

I wish she …………………… to dinner with us.

B. Write sentence which are in contradiction with the expressions below. Use ‘If only”, and replace ‘You’ with ‘I’

Example :

You did not witness the accident.

If only I had witnessed the accident.

1. You did not meet her at the party.
2. You are not as John.
3. The brakes of your car were effective.
4. I rained hard last night.
5. She did not see the doctor’s knives.