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MICHAEL SWAN

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Fully Revised International Edition

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O X FO R D
 Conjunctions, Sentences and Clauses Section 2 0

6 past instead of w o u l d . . .
Would, like will, is avoided in subordinate clauses; instead, we generally use past
verbs. This happens in «/-clauses (► 239), and also after m ost other conjunctions.
I f I h ad lots o f money, I would give some to anybody who asked fo r it.
( n o t I f I w ould have . . . who would ask fo r it.)
Would you follow m e wherever I went? ( n o t . . . wherever I would go?)
In a perfect world, you would be able to say exactly w hat you thought.
( n o t . . . w hat you would think.)
I would always try to help anybody who was in trouble, whether I knew them
or not.

For past tenses after It's time, ►502; after I ’d rather, ►566; after I wish, ►632.

7 simplification of perfect and progressive verbs

Simple past verb forms are used quite often in subordinate clauses instead of
present perfect and past perfect tenses, if the m eaning is clear.
It's been a good time while it(’s) lasted.
I ’ve usually liked the people I(’ve) worked with.
For thirty years, he had done no more than he (had) needed to.
He probably crashed because he had gone to sleep while he was driving.
(More natural than . . . while he had been driving.)
Progressives are often replaced by simple forms in subordinate clauses.
H e’s working. But a t the sam e time as he works, h e ’s exercising.
( o r . . . a t the same time as he's working . . .)

8 exceptions
These rules do not usually apply to clauses beginning because, although, since or
as (m eaning 'because'), or to non-identifying relative clauses (► 234).
I w on’t see you next week because I’ll be in Canada.
I ’ll come to the opera with you, although I probably won't enjoy it.
You'll work with Mr Harris, who will explain everything to you.
For tenses in indirect speech, ►259.

232 subjunctive: that she go, that they be,

if I were, etc___________
1 What is the subjunctive?
Some languages have special verb forms called ‘subjunctive’, which are used
especially in subordinate clauses to talk about 'unreal' situations: things which
are possible, desirable or imaginary. Older English had subjunctives, but in
m odern English they have mostly been replaced by uses of should, would and
other modal verbs, by special uses of past tenses (► 46), and by ordinary verb
forms. English only has a few subjunctive forms left: third person singular
present verbs w ithout -(e)s, (e.g. she see, he have) and special forms of be
(e.g. I be, he were). Except for I/h e/sh e/it were after if, they are not
very com mon. ->

gram m ar • 232 subjunctive: that she go, that they be, if I were, etc
2 that she see
O rdinary verbs only have one subjunctive form: a third person singular present
with no -fejs (e.g. she see). It is som etim es used in that-clauses in a formal style,
especially in American English, after words which express the idea that
som ething is im portant or desirable (e.g. suggest, recommend, ask, insist, vital,
essential, important, advice). The sam e forms are used in both present and past
sentences.
It is essential that every child have the same educational opportunities.
It was im portant that James contact A dam as soon as possible.
Our advice is that the com pany invest in new equipment.
The judge recommended that Sim m ons rem ain in prison fo r life.
Do is not used in negative subjunctives. Note the word order.
We fe lt it desirable that he n o t leave school before eighteen.
With verbs that are not third person singular, the forms are the same as ordinary
present-tense verbs (but they m ay refer to the past).
I recommended that you m ove to another office.

3 be
Be has special subjunctive forms: I be, you be, etc.
It is im portant that Ella be present when we sign the papers.
The Director asked that he be allowed to advertise fo r more staff.
I were and he/she/it were, used for example after «/(► 239.4) and wish (► 632) in
a formal style, are also subjunctives.
I f I were you I should stop smoking. I wish it were Saturday.

4 fixed phrases: as it were; so be it

Subjunctives are also used in certain fixed phrases. Examples:
God save the Queen! Long live the King!
God bless you. Heaven forbid.
He's a sort o f adopted uncle, as it were. (= . . . in a way.)
Be that as it m ay . . . (= W hether that is true or n o t . . .)
I f we have to pay £2,000, then so be it. (= We can’t do anything to change it.)

5 other structures
Most subjunctive structures are formal and unusual in British English.
In that-clauses, British people usually prefer should + infinitive (► 264.7),
or ordinary present and past tenses.
It is essential that every child should have the same educational opportunities.
( or . . . that every child has . . .)
It was im portant that James should contact Adam as soon as possible.
( o r . . . that James contacted . . .)

gram m ar • 232 subjunctive: that she go, that they be, if I were, etc