Quirk and Greenbaum (51) highlight three subjunctive moods which are
(a) The mandative subjunctive: she demanded that I go.
(b) The formulaic subjunctive: God save the Queen.
(c) The subjective were: if he were here, he’d know what to do.
However, we will stretch this a little further. Before then, what is the subjunctive?
The subjunctive is the mood expressing an action or state which is hypothetical (assumptive) or anticipated rather than actual; the subjunctive also expresses wishes, recommendations and commands.
Note: The subjunctive mood has its own impression on the verb and usually veers from the conventional choices. This means that when a sentence expresses the subjunctive mood, the verb will no longer obey other verbal rules like concord or tense.
Now, let’s go a step further by examining these rules and how they affect the verb.
Rules of Subjunctive Mood
1. When a that—clause follows a main clause expressing recommendation, resolution, demand and so on (verbs like demand, require, insist, command, advise, ask, pray, hope, request), the verb in the that—clause must be in the base form. The base form of a verb is the original form of that verb, the form that doesn’t show concord or tense. To put simply, the base verb doesn’t take -s, ed, -ing, or change form.
So, when we have: demand, insist, require, recommend, advise, request, etc. + that, the next verb will be a base form.
Example:
The nurse recommended that my father drink a lot of water.
The men advised that he travel first.
My father demanded that I be given the book (remember we said “be” is the base form of the verb to BE)
Question:
The committee asked that Abolo ____ the group. (a) led (b) leads (c) lead (d) is leading.
Answer is C.
The girls demanded that their father _____ give them some money. (a) gave (b) give (c) gives (d) given
2. The rule given above also affects indicative sentences that show necessity. When clauses like it is good, necessary, ideal, best, important, imperative are followed by a that—clause, the verb in the that- clause must be in its base form. E.g.
It is necessary that the man go abroad.
Note that what makes it subjective is the use of that—clause.
Questions:
The principal recommended that Ngozi ____ Chemistry (a) studied (b) studies (c) studying (d) study
Answer is D (base form)
The committee said it was necessary that everyone ____ the new uniform (a) got (b) gotten (c) get (d) gets
The answer is C
QUICK HELP
For subjunctive structures like the ones above, there is an assumption of a putative should. That is, we can assume the presence of should in the structure. Check:
✓ The man recommended that my father (should) jog (base verb) every morning.
✓ It is important that he (should) be given the job.
✓ She insisted that I (should) buy her ice cream.
3. Had better takes a verb in the base form.
Example:
He had better prepare (not prepared) adequately.
Note that had better is a formulaic expression. So, it is somewhat out of place to remove had as in: you better leave here.
Question
If you want to pass your examination, you ____ ____ harder (a) would better/study (b) have better/study (c) better/study (d) had better/study (e) had better/studied
The answer is D had better + base form.
Those who do not want to end up poor had better ____ hard. (a) work (b) works (c) worked (d) to be working
4. Would rather (’d rather) takes the base form of the verb.
Examples: I’d rather sleep here. He would rather leave.
5. Would rather + subject 2 (nouns or pronouns) takes the past tense. Example
I’d rather you (s2) slept (past tense) here.
He’d rather we left the place.
Note that there is nothing like will rather. It is not even English nuance.
Question:
Could I ring him up? I’d rather you _____ him (a) visit (b) visited (c) would visit (d) visiting (UTME, 1980, Q57)
The answer is B
6. It’s time, about time and high time take past tense
Examples:
It is high time we expelled the irresponsible students.
Isn’t it time you left the office?
It is high time we stopped being afraid of these bullies.
Note that in contemporary English, the present tense verb is used with these expressions. However, it is largely taken as informal. The subjunctive, on the other hand, is used in formal expressions and should be chosen in an examination.
It is high time we leave (informal)
It is high time we left (formal)
7. As if and as though take were in the subjunctive mood to show comparison. Example.
The girl sings as if she were a professional.
He acts as though he were my elder brother.
Note that the other forms of the verb to BE are appropriate in mere conversational settings but were is highly formal and considered correct. So, in an examination, choose were.
Questions:
(a) He acts ___ he were general manager (a) as (b) if (c) as if (d) so as (e) that (UTME, 1980, 55)
The answer is C.
8. If, in the subjunctive mood (expressing a wish rather than a condition) takes were. Example:
If he were my brother, I’d tell him the truth.
If I were you, I would quit smoking
Question:
Would you hit the lady if she ____ your mother? (a) is (b) was (c) were (d) am
Note that if can take are/is/am when it shows future factual condition. Example:
If I am made president, Nigeria will be secure.
It is different from wish as we have in:
If I were president, Nigeria would be secure.
9. If only and wish in the subjunctive. “If only” and “wish” can express a present concern or a past action. The present concern take about what you’d have wanted as a reality at present. A past action shows a wish you’d have loved to see happen in the past. Consider these:
I wish I could read (meaning at this point, I can’t read—present concern)
I wish I had seen you earlier (talking about a past event)
I wish we knew the way (meaning we don’t know the way at present)
I wish they had scored a goal (meaning they didn’t score a goal—past action)
If only I could eat pizza (at this present time, I can’t eat pizza—present concern)
If only I had given him the book. (Regret about a past action)
How then do we use if only/wish?
• When the concern is a present wish, the verb must be past tense (backshift)
*I wish I can live in London (wrong; can is a present modal verb)
✓ I wish I could live in London (right; past verb)
*I wish we know the answers to the questions (wrong)
✓ I wish we knew the answers (right)
If only he will just appear. (wrong)
✓ If only he would just appear (right).
However, when the action is in the past (no longer possible, a regret about a past action) wish/If only will attract the past perfective verb. (had + past participle)
Example: I wish I had gone back to school when I could (a regret about the past).
I wish she had taken her book along with her (meaning she didn’t take the book)
If only we had listened to our parents (not listened which is a simple past tense)
Question:
I wish I ___ to swim when I was younger (a) had learnt (b) learn (c) learnt (d) was learning (e) have learnt
The answer is A. Why? The verb form to choose is the past perfect because the action is past.
Finally, note that when “if only” is used as a conditional conjunction (for future reference), the verb will be present. Examples:
• The match if will interesting if only Ronaldo will play (not would).
• He will do well if only he studies harder.
QUESTIONS:
1. The man insisted that his wife ____ him the truth. (a) told (b) tell (c) tells (d) to tell.
2. It was necessary that he ______. (a) resume (b) resumes (c) resumed (d) was (d) resuming
3. The doctor advised that his patient ____ less alcohol. (a) drank (b) drinks (c) drink (d) drunk
4. You had better _____ prevaricating and answer the question. (a) stopped (b) stop (c) stops (d) have stopped
5. Amarachi would rather her sister _____ at home (a) remains (b) remained (c) remain (d) is remaining
6. If I ______ Wallace, I’d not accept the position (a) am (b) was (c) were (d) is
7. I wish I _____ a superhero. (a) was (b) were (c) are (d) is
8. If only _____ him this morning (a) have seen (b) saw (c) had seen (d) has seen
9. I wish he _____ just mention my name (a) will (b) would (c) can (d) may
10. It is time I ____ him my position. (a) tell (b) told (c) telled (d) tells.
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