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Araştırma Görevlisi
The subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form in English.
Structure of the Subjunctive
The structure of the subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs except the past tense of be, the subjunctive is the same as the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"):
NOTE:
Use of the Subjunctive
We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen.
For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:
* wants to happen
* hopes will happen
* imagines happening
Look at these examples:
* The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
* It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
* If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.
The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:
* the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest + that
* the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that
Here are some examples with the subjunctive:
* The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
* The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
* It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
* It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.
Notice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the same. It does not matter whether the sentence is past or present.
Look at these examples:
* Present: The President requests that they stop the occupation.
* Past: The President requested that they stop the occupation.
* Present: It is essential that she be present.
* Past: It was essential that she be present.
We usually use the subjunctive were instead of "was" after if (and other words with similar meaning).
Look at these sentences:
* If I were you, I would ask her.
* Suppose she were here. What would you say?
Why do we say "I were", "he were"?
We sometimes hear things like "if I were you, I would go" or "if he were here, he would tell you". Normally, the past tense of the verb "to be" is: I was, he was. But the if I were you structure does not use the past simple tense of the verb "to be". It uses the past subjunctive of the verb "to be". In the following examples, you can see that we often use the subjunctive form were instead of "was" after:
* if
* as if
* wish
* suppose
Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive.
Here are some examples:
* Long live the King!
* God bless America!
* Heaven forbid!
* Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
* Come what may, I will never forget you.
* We are all citizens of the world, as it were.
Structure of the Subjunctive
The structure of the subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs except the past tense of be, the subjunctive is the same as the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"):
NOTE:
Use of the Subjunctive
We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen.
For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:
* wants to happen
* hopes will happen
* imagines happening
Look at these examples:
* The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
* It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
* If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.
The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:
* the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest + that
* the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that
Here are some examples with the subjunctive:
* The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
* The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
* It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
* It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.
Notice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the same. It does not matter whether the sentence is past or present.
Look at these examples:
* Present: The President requests that they stop the occupation.
* Past: The President requested that they stop the occupation.
* Present: It is essential that she be present.
* Past: It was essential that she be present.
We usually use the subjunctive were instead of "was" after if (and other words with similar meaning).
Look at these sentences:
* If I were you, I would ask her.
* Suppose she were here. What would you say?
Why do we say "I were", "he were"?
We sometimes hear things like "if I were you, I would go" or "if he were here, he would tell you". Normally, the past tense of the verb "to be" is: I was, he was. But the if I were you structure does not use the past simple tense of the verb "to be". It uses the past subjunctive of the verb "to be". In the following examples, you can see that we often use the subjunctive form were instead of "was" after:
* if
* as if
* wish
* suppose
Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive.
Here are some examples:
* Long live the King!
* God bless America!
* Heaven forbid!
* Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
* Come what may, I will never forget you.
* We are all citizens of the world, as it were.
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