English Subjunctive Mood: Usage & Examples
The Subjunctive in English is the mood of a verb that always comes in the simple/base form. The subjunctive mood of verbs comes after certain verbs that indicate one person's wants, insistence, or desire for another person to do something. These certain verbs are called subjunctive verbs.
Subjunctive Verbs
- Advise
- Demand
- Prefer
- Require
- Ask
- Insist
- Propose
- Stipulate
- Command
- Urge
- Recommend
- Suggest
- Decree
- Order
- Request
Structure of Subjunctive Mood
Sub (1) + Subjunctive Verb (any tense) + that + Sub (2) + Base Form of Verb + Complement
Examples:
- John has advised that Alex go to the movies.
- Robert insisted that I work on my paper.
- The principal demands that we study hard.
- He suggested that I buy this shirt.
- She proposed that we get married.
Here, the conjunction 'that' is important with the subjunctive verbs. Without 'that', the structure changes and does NOT follow the subjunctive mood:
Sub + Subjunctive Verbs (any tense) + Object + Infinitive (to + verb) + Complement
Examples:
- We recommend you to go to the movies. (No 'that', no subjunctive)
- He advised me to study hard.
However, the subjunctive verbs with the conjunction 'that' always follow the subjunctive mood (first structure).
Subjunctive Adjectives
There are also some adjectives that create a subjunctive mood. These adjectives come after the 'be verbs' along with the conjunction 'that' and create a subjunctive mood for the next verb. These adjectives are called subjunctive adjectives.
- Advised
- Necessary
- Urgent
- Required
- Important
- Obligatory
- Mandatory
- Suggested
- Recommended
- Imperative
Structure of Subjunctive Adjectives
It + Be Verbs (any tense) + Subjunctive Adjective + that + Sub + Base Form of Verb + Comp