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C1 Section 4 : The subjunctive - Coggle Diagram
C1 Section 4 : The subjunctive
What is subjuntive?
The subjunctive is a special verb form that we use to talk about things which may or may not be real.
It is rare in English now, although it is more common in US English. It sounds formal or old-fashioned, but it can add a nice level of elegance and control.
The subjunctive is only found in main clauses in certain fixed expressions
we can only 'see' the subjunctive with 'he, she, it', because it does not take the third person 's'.
The form of the subjunctive is the same as the bare infinitive form of the verb.
· It is urgent that
we go
now! (this looks like a normal present tense but is actually a subjunctive)
· It is urgent that
she go
now! (this looks strange but is actually a correct subjunctive)
· I request that
you be
on time. (correct subjunctive)
· I request that
they be
here. (correct subjunctive)
The negative subjunctive does not use the auxiliary verb 'don't/doesn't'. We just put 'not' before the infinitive verb
I
not go
, you
not go
, he / she / it
not go
, we
not go
, they
not go
especially in British English, use
should
instead of a subjunctive verb to talk about a possible or hypothetical event
· It's important that he should attend the meeting. (Alternative to a subjunctive 'that he attend', not advice.)
Complex subjuntive forms
If we want to make a subjunctive to describe something in progress, we use the subjunctive of
be
and
verb-ing
· He requested that we
be waiting
for him on his arrival.
· It is crucial that he
not be waiting
for too long.
The negative form uses
not + be + verb-ing
we can make a passive subjunctive form. This uses the subjunctive of 'be' and a past participle:
· It is urgent that she
be seen
by a doctor immediately.
· It is imperative that he
not be made
to wait too long.
The negative form is 'not + be + past participle':
Subjuntives after nouns and verbs
can use subjunctive to talk about some kind of demand/suggestion or a sense of urgency
These verbs can drop
that
after them, while the noun forms usually keep
that
.
Subjunctive after adjectives
can also make the subjunctive after some adjectives that talk about a sense of necessity or urgency.
These adjectives can also use a
that
.
choose to use the subjunctive after the phrases
good idea
and
bad idea
· It is a good idea that he be here for the meeting.
· It's a bad idea that she not be present.
Subjunctives in other structures
This is very rare in modern English, and can often sound formal or old-fashioned
We generally only make the subjunctive of the verb 'be' in these cases.
· If : He may refuse help. If
that be
the case, there is nothing we can do.
· On condition (that) : I will give you the money on condition that
it not be
wasted.
There is one conjunction that can use a subjunctive with 'be' and also with other verbs.
· Provided / providing (that) : I will help her, provided that she thank me after!
can take a subjunctive after the word
whether
, and the meaning is 'it doesn't matter which option'.
· We will manage,
whether it be
good news or bad.
· She will be very successful,
whether it be
as a writer, a singer or a scientist!
There is also a formal version of this structure that we make without 'whether'
· We will manage,
be it
good news or bad.
· She will be very successful,
be it
as a writer, a singer or a scientist!
the word
lest
is extremely rare conjunction that prefers a subjunctive and it means something like 'to try to avoid something serious' or 'because of fear of something'.
· We must be quiet,
lest he hear
us. (= To try to avoid him hearing us.)
· I felt terrified,
lest it go
wrong. (= For fear of it going wrong.)
Subjuntive set phrases
Modern English also uses the subjunctive in a lot of set phrases.
Also see
C1 Section 4 - Subjunctive set phrases