THE SUBJUNCTIVE

The subjunctive mood indicates a situation which does not describe reality as it is now, as it was
in the past or as it might conceivably occur in the future, but rather creates a ‘parallel world’: that of
wishes or regrets, in the first place, or, less fancifully, that of grammatical situations typical to a
particular language. Fortunately, in the case of wishes/regrets, in English the moods (the subjunctive
and the conditional) for expressing the counterfactual look like the past tenses of the indicative mood
(the past tense, the past perfect and the future in the past), yet with a ‘time gap’ between the time to
which the subjunctive tense actually refers and its ‘one-tense-more-in-the-past’ form. In the
grammatical situations, the present subjunctive looks like the bare infinitive (or short infinitive).

MAKING A PROPOSAL/SUGGESTION/RECOMMENDATION/REQUEST/DEMAND

We use the present subjunctive – i.e. the bare (or short) infinitive form – to make a proposal, a
suggestion, a recommendation, an indirect request or a demand. Certain verbs (PROPOSE, SUGGEST,
RECOMMEND, ASK = REQUEST, URGE, DEMAND) and certain adjectival phrases with the structure IT
IS + adj. + THAT require the subjunctive. The conjunction THAT is optional with the verbs, but not with
the adjectival phrases. In British English but not in American English SHOULD + infinitive can be used
after such verbs and adjectival phrases.

I suggest she find another job. (Don’t use the indicative present tense: *...she finds...)
Someone suggested that they break into small groups to address the various aspects of the task.
Would you recommend that they be allowed to stay here?
Medical experts urge that the dieter be aware that their family may be uncooperative and lure
them to eat unhealthy foods. For instance, an insecure spouse may demand that the dieter have an
appetising plate of French fries.
It was her doctor that recommended that she change her job.
It is important that doctor Myra Johnson attend the race because an official is demanding that she
examine the runners.
It is essential that possible dealers should also be investigated.

The adjectives which can be used in the pattern IT IS + adj. + THAT followed by the subjunctive
express:
a. surprise and shock: SURPRISING, AMAZING, ODD, STRANGE, INCREDIBLE, UNBELIEVABLE,
HORRIFYING, CRAZY, etc;
b. disapproval and disappointment: TYPICAL, SAD, UNFORTUNATE, UNACCEPTABLE, MISGUIDED,
ABSURD, etc;
c. advisability and importance: IMPORTANT, ESSENTIAL, VITAL, IMPERATIVE, BETTER, etc;
d. justice: (ONLY) FAIR, (ONLY) NATURAL, (ONLY) REASONABLE, etc.
The main use of the adjectival phrases with SHOULD is to comment on an idea rather than on a fact;
hence such sentences express a rather subjective position on the matter. Compare:
It is surprising that she believe him = The mere fact that she believes him is surprising.
It is surprising that she should believe him = Just the idea of her believing him is surprising.
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The present subjunctive is sometimes also used after LEST in a purpose clause to specify what an
action is intended to prevent:

He was put in a cell with no clothes and shoes lest he injure himself. (= for fear that otherwise he
would injure himself)

EXPRESSING WISHES AND REGRETS

Logically speaking, we can express wishes only regarding the present situation or the future. For
the past, the wish that situations in the past should have happened otherwise is actually a regret. Since
all these cases are counterfactual, the mood to be used is not the indicative, but the subjunctive, whose
tenses we use as if they were the tenses of the indicative only with a form of distancing in the past.

It’s time / it’s high time / it’s about time

We use these phrases to express present or future wishes, or to express our impatience about
things that haven’t happened yet. Especially in the latter case we cannot use ‘It’s time + TO-infinitive’.
Contrast the structures and attitudes expressed in:
‘It’s time to get down to work.’ – ‘I’d rather extend my holiday period.’
It’s time for her to get down to work.
with
‘It’s time you got down to work.’ – ‘I’d rather you didn’t remind me about it.’
It’s time she went down to work.

Wish + the subjunctive; If only + the subjunctive

‘State of TIME SUBJUNCTIVE Form similar Situation

mind’ REFERENCE tense to the
INDICATIVE
tense
WISH Present: PAST I wish my daughter spoke French more
to express fluently so as to be able to study in
dissatisfaction France. Unfortunately, she can barely
with a present introduce herself.
situation or a I wish I were (formal) / was (informal)
repeated a bird. Then perhaps I could fly the
habitual world over.
activity (of the
speaker or of
someone else).
Future: to FUTURE IN I wish it would stop raining;
express THE PAST unfortunately, the weather forecast is
dissatisfaction for more raining until next Monday.
with and I wish my neighbours would be less
annoyance noisy and their dog less active!
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about
something that
we would like
to be different
but that we
can’t expect to
improve in the
future
REGRET Past: to PAST I wish I had studied dentistry, not law:
express PERFECT now I would be able to work abroad
dissatisfaction and earn much more than I do at
with situations home.
in the past Seeing the lifestyle there, she wished
she had been born in Denmark.
If only he hadn’t been so outspoken!

WISH + TO-infinitive = a more formal way of saying I want to... or I would like to...:
We wish to remind you that the deadline for application submissions is Thursday 11. No extension
may be granted after that time under any circumstances.

Expressing preferences about other people’s actions: I’D RATHER / I’D SOONER
4| English Practical Course: The Subjunctive / Assoc. prof. Estella Ciobanu

PRACTICE

Rewrite the following situations (expressing wishes and regrets) starting I wish... or If only..., as
appropriate:

1. I haven’t got a car. I would very much like to have one.  I wish I had a car.
2. I went to bed late last night. I regret it because now I’m sleepy and unable to focus on my work. 
I wish I hadn’t gone to bed late last night because now I’m sleepy...
3. We don’t live in a nice big house. I would like us to.
4. You didn’t tell me the truth and that saddens me terribly.
5. I would like my job to be more challenging.
6. I regret I didn’t buy that dress last week. Now it no longer has a discount.
7. He won’t stop shouting. I would like him to.
8. I lost my temper yesterday. I deeply regret it now.
9. I would like you to stop playing that terrible music! Yet you’re ever so stubborn and
inconsiderate!
10. I didn’t go to that concert. I regret it now.
11. My family live a long way from here. I would like them to live nearer to me.
12. Why are you not listening to me? It’s really annoying that you never do!
13. He’s working abroad now. I would very much like him to be with me now.
14. I regret I squandered all my money on that expensive coat.
15. I regret we didn’t eat before we came out. Now I’m starving to death.

Rewrite the second sentence of the conversation, starting with I’d rather we/you etc.

1. ‘You’d better phone Judy tonight.’ – ‘No, you phone her.’  I’d rather you phoned her.
2. ‘Let’s talk things over right away.’ – ‘No, let’s talk tomorrow.’
3. ‘Shall I come at 8 am?’ – ‘No, 9 would be much better.’
4. ‘Ask that police officer.’ – ‘You ask him!’
5. ‘I’ll cook tomorrow.’ – ‘Tonight would be better.’
6. ‘The government wants to cut taxes.’ – ‘It would be better if they did something about the
homeless.’
7. ‘Can we use your photocopying machine when we arrive with the material?’ – ‘It would be more
convenient if you came with the material already multiplied.’
8. ‘Mark wants to go out.’ – ‘I’d prefer him to stay in. It’s getting really cold.’

Rephrase these sentences starting It’s (high) time you/she/he, etc.

1. You ought to clean that car.  It’s time you cleaned that car.
2. She should get her hair cut.
3. We ought to have a holiday.
4. You need to cut the grass.
5. You should wash that sweater.
6. You ought to stop smoking.
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7. That team hasn’t won a match for ages.

8. We ought to have the kitchen painted.

Supply the correct form to the verbs in brackets.

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Supply the missing references.

Rewrite the following sentences beginning with the pattern IT IS + adj. THAT...:

1. You know my uncle. That is rather odd.  It is rather odd that you should know my uncle.
2. Children are allowed so much freedom. That is misguided.
3. It is essential for children to be taught discipline.
4. It is only natural for parents to spoil their children.
5. It is extremely important for children to learn to share things as well as assume responsibility.
6. No two children, even siblings, learn in the same way even in the same milieu. That is strange.
7. It is much better for parents to know about the problems their children have at school.
8. It is only right for parents to get involved in the education of their children.
9. Some parents consider school a waste of time. This is very sad.

Complete each of the following sentences with any appropriate phrase.

1. I suggest ...
2. No one recommended she ...
3. The lawyer requested a subpoena ...
4. The mayor proposed ...
5. Would you suggest that the law ... ?
7| English Practical Course: The Subjunctive / Assoc. prof. Estella Ciobanu

Sources

Alexander, L.G. 1990. Longman English Grammar Practice for Intermediate Students. Harlow: Longman.
Arnold, John and Jeremy Harmer. 1978. Advanced Writing Skills. Harlow: Longman.
Evans, Virginia. 2003. Round-Up Grammar 5. Student’s Book. New and updated. Harlow: Longman.
Swan, Michael and Catherine Walter. 1997. How English Works: A Grammar Practice Book. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Swick, Ed. 2009. Practice Makes Perfect: English Sentence Builder. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Walker, Elaine and Steve Elsworth. 2000. Grammar Practice for Upper-Intermediate Students. New ed. Harlow:
Longman.