Grammar for Everyone - Barbara Dykes 2007
Subjunctive or conditional mood
Introduction
Part II The parts of speech
The word ’subjunctive’, from Latin subjunctivus, means ’joined under’ and in grammar this refers to the fact that it is often expressed in a joined, subsidiary clause (see page 170).
This mood expresses uncertainty, doubt or a wish - the ’maybe’ situation. It is, in fact, much less complicated than in many other languages.
It is sometimes called the conditional mood from Latin conditio to discuss; in other words, the matter is as yet undecided. We form the subjunctive in several ways.
1. We use auxiliaries may or might with the bare infinitive.
For example:
We may buy some bananas.
We might have them for dinner.
If, on the other hand, the outcome of the event has been decided, we use might.
For example:
If you had closed the gate the cows might not have got out.
2. The verb ’to be’ features in the majority of subjunctive forms. In the present tense we use ’be’ for all persons.
For example:
He suggested I be on the committee.
Be he live or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread ....
In the future we use ’were’.
For example:
If I were you, I would laugh.
If all the seas were one sea
But in the past we use ’had’.
For example:
Had I been there I would have laughed.
3. Sometimes the auxiliary is omitted (understood) especially in wishes.
For example:
So be it.
God save the Queen.
And in the negative:
Lest we forget.
Many a blessing or kind wish has been expressed in the subjunctive.
For example:
May the wind be always at your back. (Irish blessing)
Well may your lums [chimneys] reek [smoke].
(A Scottish Gaelic blessing for new brides - not Gaelic spelling)
23.1 Activities: mood
1. Students complete sentences orally around the class with the following beginnings:
a. I wish ...
For example: I wish I were (not was) at the show.
b. I/he/she suggested ...
For example: She suggested that he stay (not stays) at home.
c. If this be the case ...
For example: If this be (not is) the case, we should tell the police.
Students write one of each type in their own grammar exercise books. Remember that each section should have a heading to aid revision.
2. Students are given verbs with which to form sentences in each mood, for example:
Wear -
Indicative: He is wearing his best shoes.
Imperative: Don’t wear your best shoes in the paddock.
Subjunctive: I suggested he wear his farm boots.
3. Students compose their own blessings or sayings using the subjunctive mood. For homework, they could see if they can discover any more from popular or classical literature.
Checklist: mood
Students should now be able to:
• explain the term ’mood’ and state the three forms in English.
• explain the function of the indicative and imperative moods with examples.
• explain the terms ’subjunctive’ and ’conditional’
• discuss the argument for retaining these forms in our language
• give examples of the subjunctive mood
- using the verb ’to be’
- using may and might
- expressing doubt, wish or intention
• correctly form sentences in indicative, imperative or subjunctive mood
• correctly form sentences indicating doubt, wish or intention