Subjunctive Mood
If I only had a brain...
First thing first…
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How can a verb have a “mood”?
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According to Troyka and Hesse, “Mood in verbs
conveys an attitude toward the action in a
sentence.”
In English, there are three moods: Indicative,
Imperative, and Subjunctive.
*Important Side Note*
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The Subjunctive Mood is being used less and less in
every day dialogue but still must be known for
academic writing.
The Hodges’ Harbrace Handbook states that
“Although you may not use the subjunctive when you
are speaking with friends, using it in your writing
shows your readers how you feel about your claims.”
So here we go!!!!
When to use the Subjunctive Mood
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The Subjunctive mood is used when the verb
is trying to express the following:
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Speculation
Indirect Requests
Demands
Wishes
Unlikely events
Recommendations
The Use of the Subjunctive Mood in
present and past tense.
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Present Subjunctive: Use the SIMPLE forms of
verbs.
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Example: It is important that they be [not are] allowed back
stage for the Cheap Trick concert.
Past Subjunctive: Use the SIMPLE PAST forms of
verbs.
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Examples: If I only had a brain.
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EXCEPTION: Use were for present and past tense
Subjunctive.
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Examples: I wish they were coming home today. (Present)
Examples: We asked if we were allowed to skip school. (Past)
Key words in finding and using the
subjunctive mood
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If
As If
As Though
Unless
The Subjunctive Mood in If, As If, As
Though, & Unless Clauses
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Used as Dependent Clauses
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A dependent clause contains a subject and a predicate but
can’t stand alone as a sentence. Usually adverb or adjective
clauses.
Describes speculations or conditions contrary to fact.
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Examples:
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If it were to snow, our flight would be canceled.
We will never be friends again, unless she were to apologize.
NOTE!!! Not every clause introduced with these key words will
be subjunctive. Make sure the clause expresses a speculation
or a condition contrary to fact.
The Subjunctive Mood in That Clauses
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That clauses are used to describe wishes,
requests, demands, or recommendations.
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Examples:
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I wish that I had seen Blink-182.
She recommended that I see a doctor.
Modal Auxiliary Verbs in the
Subjunctive (or helping verbs)
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Modal Auxiliary Verbs: would, could, might, &
should.
These words can convey speculation and
therefore are used in the Subjunctive Mood.
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Examples:
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If I were a little bit taller, I would be a baller.
She might lie to my face, as if I were nothing.
NOTE: Do NOT use a modal auxiliary verb in
both the dependent and independent clause.
Indicative vs. Subjunctive Conjugation
Present Tense
Singular
Plural
I Am
We Are
You Are
You Are
He, She, It
Is
They Are
Singular
Plural
That I Be
That We Be
That You
Be
That You
Be
That He,
She, It, Be
That They
Be
Indicative vs. Subjunctive Conjugation
Past Tense
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
I Was
We Were
If I Were
If We Were
You Were
You Were
If You Were
If You Were
He, She, It
Was
They Were
If She, He, It
Were
If They
Were
Practice!
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Choose the correct subjunctive verb form to complete the following
sentence.
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If he _____ in better shape, he would be a great addition to our football
team.
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The coach asked that each player ____ twice a day.
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A. would practice B. practice C. practiced
The coach of the Cane Ridge Raven’s football team required that each
student _____ for their ticket to the game on Friday.
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A. would have been B. were C. would be D. was
A. paid B. pay C. had paid
We wished that we _____ Riverdale’s team.
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A. beat B. had beaten C. would have beaten
Answers!
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If he were in better shape, he would be a great
addition to our football team.
The coach asked that each player practice twice
each day.
The coach of the Cane Ridge Raven’s required that
each student pay for their ticket to the game on
Friday.
We wished that we had beaten Riverdale’s rugby
team.
Post-Assignment
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Please write a paragraph containing at least
five uses of the Subjunctive Mood. You can
write your paragraph over the following
topics or with a topic of your choice.
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What if you were a millionaire?
What would you do if you were a genie?
How would your life now be different if you were
living in America during the 1970s?