CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE SUBJUNCTIVE.
16.1
THE FORMS AND USES OF THE REAL SUBJUNCTIVE.
16.1.1 Strictly speaking, the forms of the real subjunctive are as follows:
Present: the same as the incomplete infinitive.
Past: the same as the simple past, except for the verb "to be," which has the form
"were" for all persons.
Pluperfect: the same as the ordinary pluperfect.
16.1.2 The most common use of a real subjunctive in modern English is the past subjunctive
of the verb "to be" after "if."
If I were you, I would be more careful.
I'd ask him if he were here.
16.1.3 A real subjunctive can also be used after the following verbs, expressing an order or a
recommendation: (see also 16.2.4.)
to order - to command - to insist - to demand - to request - to ask - to recommend - to
propose - to suggest
We insist that the meeting be held as soon as possible.
I suggest that he come alone.
They demand that we return immediately.
I propose that you leave as soon as possible.
They requested that this be done by tomorrow.
They recommended that our company invest in new property.
16.1.4 There are a few relatively common expressions which in fact contain a subjunctive.
God save the Queen!
Long live the Pope!
Heaven help us all!
(God) bless you!
Come what may, Daphne, I shall always love you.
16.2
"SHOULD" AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE SUBJUNCTIVE.
16.2.1 We can form a type of subjunctive form with "should," and a past subjunctive with
"should have," and this is quite frequently seen after "if," "in case," "suppose" and
"supposing," expressing an idea of hypothesis.
If she should come round, tell her I've gone to live in Rio.
I left a plan for them, in case they should have lost their map.
Suppose they should arrive before us, who's going to let them in?
16.2.2 The same form is to be found when we express our feelings about something that has
happened.
I am sorry that you should take that attitude.
She was astonished that you should have answered her like that.
16.2.3 It is often used when the sentence begins with an impersonal form, when you have
adjectives such as "strange," "amazing," "important," "annoying," "ridiculous," "essential,"
and so on; again, this can be a way of expressing your feelings about something, in fact.
It's important that you should not underestimate him.
It is necessary that we should help him.
Was it not strange that they should have abandoned him that way?
It was amazing that so few people should have been killed in the crash.
16.2.4 This form is perhaps a more frequently used alternative to the use of the real
subjunctive that was mentioned in 16.1.3, to express an order or a recommendation.
He insisted that all the homework should be handed in.
They suggested that we should invite the vicar too.
16.3
"MAY" AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE SUBJUNCTIVE.
16.3.1 Another type of subjunctive can be formed with "may," "might," "may have" or "might
have." It is used for example when we want to express an intention.
I'm telling you this so you may be prepared for the shock.
We opened the curtains so that they might see the guests arriving.
I called round early so we might have time for a drink first.
16.3.2 This form is also used when we hope that something might happen, but we're not at all
sure that it will.
I hope you may all understand these explanations.
We hoped they might come for Christmas.
They hoped I might have forgotten all about the test!
16.3.3 We also use this form when we're afraid about the possibility of something happening.
I feared she might want to kiss me.
Aren't you worried that someone might steal your bike?
16.4
THE UNREAL PAST.
16.4.1 The "Unreal Past" is used after "to wish" or "if only," when we are talking about
something that we would like to be true or to have happened, but which seems impossible. A
past form is used for a wish about the present moment, and a pluperfect for a wish about the
past.
I wish I was good at English.
If only I had long, fair hair!
She wishes you had told her sooner.
If only we'd known!
16.4.2 Note that progressive forms are also possible in this kind of sentence, if the sense
requires them.
I wish I was lying in my bed right now.
If only Jennifer hadn't been driving!
16.4.3 If the wish concerns a future event, we use the conditional tense.
We wish you would come with us tomorrow.
If only it would stop raining!
16.4.4 The construction is similar after "it's (high) time," and also after "I'd rather," when the
subject of the next verb is a different one.
It's time we all went home.
It was high time they had finished.
I'd rather you didn't wear that hat, Penelope!
I'd rather he hadn't said that!