When Is It Used?

The subjunctive is a specific verb form.
It usually expresses something that you

wish for, or a hypothetical rather than actual situation:
If only I were ten years younger.
I only wish that what you say were true.
It is also used to indicate that something is being suggested or demanded:
The report recommends that he face the tribunal.

It is important that they be aware of the provisions of the Act.
In modern English it is distinguished from other verb forms only a) by the use
of be and were instead of the indicative forms (am/is/are/was) as in the example
above; and b) by lacking the final letter -s of the third person singular (he/she/it)
in the present tense (in the example above he face, not he faces).
When is it used?
You are most likely to encounter the subjunctive in formal writing or speech.
You’ll also encounter it in the following scenarios:
1. In that-clauses
Nowadays it is probably most frequent in that-clauses with verbs such
as demand, insist, pray, recommend, suggest, and semantically related
nouns/adjectives, e.g. essential, important, insistence, proposal, etc.
She declined a seat beside Charles on the sofa. She insisted that Jane sit there.
It was suggested that he wait until the next morning.
It is important that they be aware of the provisions of the Act.
Note: In most such cases it can be replaced by should + infinitive or by the
indicative form of the verb:
She declined a seat beside Charles on the sofa. She insisted that Jane sat there.
It was suggested that he should wait until the next morning.
It is important that they are aware of the provisions of the Act.
The use of the subjunctive instead of those alternatives is very frequent in
American English.
In constructions of this type, any negation not (or never etc.) is normally placed
before the subjunctive verb:
One essential quality for a holiday novel is that it not be too light.
I recommend that we not approve this letter.
This construction is routine in American English, but less common elsewhere.
2. As if…, as though…, if…
After if (or as if, as though, unless) in hypotheses or comparisons:

If that were so, things would be very different.
It was as if Sally were disturbed in some way.
His voice strained as though he were walking on a wire above a pit of sharks.
The indicative may also be used, i.e. was instead of were, in all the examples
above, but the subjunctive arguably conveys the hypothetical sense more
forcefully.
3. If I were you…
Usage seems to be changing in phrases such as if I were you, if it were up to me,

etc. People often say if I was you and if it was up to me, but the subjunctive is
preferable in writing, especially any formal or academic prose. The phrase as it
were, however, cannot be modified:
Having to ask permission, as it were, to see her friends
Suddenly, as it were overnight, the weather became hot and sultry.
4. Set phrases
For categories 1–3 using the subjunctive is optional. However, there are many
set phrases which contain a hidden subjunctive as part of the phrase:
 come what may
 Far be it from me to…
 God save the Queen!
 Heaven forbid!
 Perish the thought!
 so be it
 Thy kingdom come, thy will be done...
 suffice it to say...
 woe betide...
Possibly, it is failure to recognize that suffice it to say is subjunctive, with it as
the grammatical subject, that leads many people to say suffice to say.
5. At the head of a clause
This kind of construction, with the subject after the verb, is more typically found
in writing than in speech, where it might be considered rather formal.
Were I to get drunk, it would help me drown my anguish.

Unlike rival international fairs, be they in London, New York or Maastricht, the
Biennale has enormous popular appeal.
The subjunctive was formerly used in English for situations that were
improbable or that expressed a wish. It is only rarely used in modern British
English. It is, however, found in certain set phrases and in very formal forms of
speech and writing.
God save the Queen!
God bless you!
God help us!
Heaven help us!
Heaven forbid that that should happen to me.
Suffice it to say he escaped with only a caution.
THE PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
The form in the present tense is exactly the same as the base form in all persons
of the verb. That is, there is no -s on the 3rd person singular.
The subjunctive is used, in very formal English, in subordinate clauses that
follow verbs expressing a desire, a demand, a formal recommendation, or a
resolve.
I only ask that he cease behaving in this extraordinary manner.
It is vital that they be stopped at once.
Is it really necessary that she work all hours of the day?
I demand that he do something to make up for this.
The clause containing the subjunctive is linked to the main clause with that.
This use of the subjunctive is more common in American English than in British
English. British speakers usually take advantage of other ways of expressing the
same message, especially in less formal speech.
I only ask that he should cease behaving in this extraordinary manner.
It is vital that they are stopped at once.
It is vital to stop them at once.
Is it really necessary for her to work all hours of the day?
I demand that he does something to make up for this.
THE PAST SUBJUNCTIVE
In written English and in very formal speech, the past subjunctive form were is
sometimes used with the 1st and 3rd person singular, in place of the normal past
form was.
The past subjunctive may be used:
after if or I wish, to express regret or longing
If your father were alive he would help you.
If I were rich I would buy a Ferrari.
I wish I were taller.
If only he were here now!
after as if/as though and similar expressions, to express doubt or improbability.
You talk to him as if he were your slave!
Some people behave as though dogs were human.

When Is It Used?

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When Is It Used?

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The subjunctive is a specific verb form.

It usually expresses something that you

The report recommends that he face the tribunal.

2. As if…, as though…, if…

After if (or as if, as though, unless) in hypotheses or comparisons:

Usage seems to be changing in phrases such as if I were you, if it were up to me,

Were I to get drunk, it would help me drown my anguish.

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