God Save the Subjunctive!

In many languages like French and Spanish, the subjunctive mood flourishes, but because English is a syncretic language (one with a weak inflectional base), what little of the subjunctive mood that still exists is marginally used to say the least.

This article is meant to expatiate on the topic of the English subjunctive mood—to point out the facts as well as the fallacies so that there be no more confusion among the laity anymore. Without further adieu, here goes:

MODERN ENGLISH SYNTAX

Simple Present Indicative: to be

1. I am
2. You are
3. He/She/It is
4. We are
5. You are
6. They are

Examples: (all conjugated forms of present indicative to be)

I am the king of England.

They are here for only one reason.

She is the only one for me.

Simple Present Subjunctive: to be

1. I be
2. You be
3. He/She/It be
4. We be
5. You be
6. They be

Negated Example: You not be

Examples: (all conjugated forms of present subjunctive to be)

I demand that they be there when I come home.

I ask that he not be at the party.

It's time we be the ones in charge.

Let there be light!

THE BASIS

In English, except for the verb to be, the present subjunctive is relatively simple to conjugate because its construction is the same as the simple present indicative except in 3rd person singular form and when it is negated using the adverb "not." Furthermore, it is hardly ever used in modern English. Its usage mainly occurs during certain fixed expressions (God save the subjunctive!) and "that" clauses that deal with supplications, hopes, prayers, yearnings, and desires. It can also appear in the protasis of if/then clauses when the clause is being used to express something that the speaker is unsure of. Such an example would be:

If John go to the store, he will be late for dinner.

Here, the speaker is expressing uncertainty as to whether John will go to the store. If the speaker were to say "John goes," then the sentence would semantically mean that it is a proven fact that John is going to the store. There would be no vacillation in this context, although, in spoken English, many native speakers would find a construction like the one above to be stilted to say the very least.

There are a couple of ways to remove the above clause from present subjunctive mood while still allowing it to appear as though it were a subjunctive statement. The most common way is to use the modal "should" between the subject and the present subjunctive verb. Below are some examples:

1. If John should go to the store, he will be late for dinner.

2. Should John go to the store, he will be late for dinner.

The simple past subjunctive in English is the simplest one to construct because its conjugations, except for the verb "to be," are the exact same as the simple past indicative. The Past subjunctive is formed in fixed expressions like:

1. as it were
2. Would that it were
3. Were I you

The past subjunctive also occurs in hypothetical, contrary-to-fact statements as well as wishes. It is meant to take the reader out of reality to an irreal place or situation. Here is how to conjugate the verb to be in its simple past indicative form with its past subjunctive form in parentheses:

Simple Past Indicative (Subjunctive): to be

1. I was (were)
2. You were (were)
3. He/She/It was (were)
4. We were (were)
5. You were (were)
6. They were (were)

Negated Example Simple Past Indicative: I was not

Negated Example Simple Past Subjunctive: I were not

Here are some examples of the Simple Past Subjunctive:

If I were president, I would cut taxes. (But I am not the president.)

If he went to school, he would actually pass the 10th grade. (But he does not go to school.)

I wish I were living on campus. (But I am not living on campus.)

Suppose it were right, then what would happen. (But it is not right.)

Would you still love me even though (or even if) (or though/although) I were maimed by a wild animal? (But I am not maimed.)

If I played baseball, I would have a lot of fun. (But I do not play baseball.)

Assuming (or supposing that/granting that) (or in the event that) this house were for sale, would you buy it? (But it is not for sale.)

This is a basic understanding of the English simple present and past subjunctive tenses. There is actually more to it, but that will be explained in a future article. Remember that many speakers do not speak this way because the subjunctive mood is considered by many native speakers to be outmoded. This is just a brief excursis for those of you who are learning a second language and have noticed this precept called the subjunctive mood and have asked yourselves, "Do we have it in our own language?" The answer is YES, we do, but, in modern times, it is as old as perhaps Shakespeare himself.