THE

SUBJUNCTIVE
MOOD
pages 134-136
Mood refers to the
way action or
condition is
presented.
It is the context in which the
verb is used in the sentence.
(indicative, imperative,
subjunctive)
Subjunctive Mood
IT IS THE MOOD THAT EXPRESSES
wishes or desires
uncertainty or doubt
hypothetical conditions
suppositions
statements contrary to fact
Usage
The subjunctive mood may be used in the
following ways.
1) as if-/as though- or if-clause
2) imagine and suppose
3) past perfect subjunctive
4) wish + noun/pronoun + past tense
5) that-clause + base verb
6) let
 as if-/as though-
or if-clause
To express a hypothetical condition, the subjunctive
mood is often formed with an as if- or as though- or
if-clause that uses the past tense of the verb in the
subordinating (dependent) clause. The main clauses
in such statements often use the modal auxiliaries
would, could, and might.
Try and Learn
EXAMPLES OF AS IF-/AS THOUGH- OR
IF-CLAUSE

She talks as if she owned the place.

They partied as though they were rich.
If she smiled more, she could make friends.
If I had wings, I would fly so I could escape their judging eyes.
If I could save all people who suffer from mistreatment, I would.
If the world were a perfect place, no one would suffer.
We might live in harmony if we were more tolerant and flexible.
You may see the beauty of the world more clearly if you were more open.
 imagine/suppose
A hypothetical condition is also expressed through the
subjunctive mood using the verbs imagine and
suppose.

- Imagine you were an Ivy League school graduate.

Which companies could you apply to?
- Suppose a genie gave you three wishes. What would
they be?
 past perfect
subjunctive
If the hypothetical condition applies to the past, the
if-clause uses the past perfect tense form of the verb.
This is called the past perfect subjunctive.
Compare the following examples
of the past perfect subjunctive
with earlier examples.

If she smiled more, she could make friends.

If she had smiled more, she could have made friends.
Had she smiled more, she could have made friends.

If I had wings, I would fly so I could escape their judging eyes.

If I had had wings, I would have flown away so I could escape their
judging eyes.
Had I had wings, I would have flown away so I could escape their
judging eyes.
Compare the following examples
of the past perfect subjunctive
with earlier examples.

If I could save all people who suffer from mistreatment, I would.

If I could have saved all people who suffered from mistreatment, I
would have.
Had I been able to save all people who suffered from mistreatment, I
would have.

If the world were a perfect place, no one would suffer.

If the world had been a perfect place, no one would have suffered.
Had the world been a perfect place, no one would have suffered.
 wish + noun or
pronoun + past
tense of the verb
To express wishes or desires, the subjunctive mood is
usually formed by using the pattern above.
Try and Learn
EXAMPLES OF WISH + NOUN OR
PRONOUN + PAST TENSE OF THE VERB

I wish I were Shylock so that I could have done things differently.

She wishes her family lived together instead of being continents apart.

Sometimes I wish we could all remove people's unjust prejudices.

You wish all people would accept your shortcomings.

 that-clause + base
verb
To express a supposition or an assertion, the
subjunctive mood is formed with a that-clause that
uses the base form of the verb. The base form of the
verb is used regardless of the number of the subject in
the that-clause or the tense of the main verb. A that-
clause may be preceded by an adjective.
Try and Learn
EXAMPLES OF THAT-CLAUSE + BASE
FORM OF THE VERB

It is advisable that she submit the documents early.

It was best that you keep the gate locked at all times.
It is important that she take the neutral side.
It is essential that she be treated with respect.
Since we lived in an international dormitory, it was vital that we be more accepting
of individual differences.
My suggestion is that he apologize to the director.
The recommendation was that she resume her medication.
The teacher demands that we finish the project on time,
She requested that her partner wear a matching outfit.
I am sure he will insist that we practice the dance routine every day.
 let
Starting the sentence with the word let may also form
a sentence in the subjunctive mood,

- Let the dream of pluralism continue to inspire us.

- Let us fight discrimination in all its forms.
Thank you
for joining
today's class.
Be sure to study the next topics in
advance so you can prepare for our
discussions.