The Subjunctive
I. Mood
- a category by means of which the speaker expresses his mental attitude towards the
situation by the WH phrase.
The attitude: - either are of considering the situation as a fact
-or are of uncertainty
Indicative mood: - characteristic of assertions (informative use of language)
- the sentence in Indicative is a representation of an actual state of affairs.
Subjunctive mood: - characteristic of non-assertion
i.e. prescriptive use of language.
- the sentence in S. represents a possible non-factual state of affairs.
- occurs in commendations that are intended to bring a bent a certain course of affairs
- used-in value judgments: - word
- non-word
v The Synthetical : The Present Subjunctive
Subjunctive -identical to the short Infinitive
Used in: - independent clause: e.g.: Long live peace!
God save the Q.!
,Expresses wishes, set expressions called: Formulaic S.
- dependent clauses: - express desire, a demand, a necessity
[called: Mandative S.]
Past S.
Past Perfect S.:
Direct Object Clauses: She ordered that he sit down.
Subject Clauses: It is advisable that he arrive in time
Conditional Clauses: If this be true, we must leave.
2 forms:
v The Analytical S.
- made up of a modal verb and the Present | Perfect Infinitive of the verb.
The Past Subjunctive
Identical to the Past Tense of the verb: - Conditional Clauses
- after – wish, it’s time, as if
The Past Perfect Subjunctive
identical to the Past Perfect tense : Conditional Clauses
after wish, as if
Analytical: - should + infinitive
may | might+infinitive
would+ infinitive
could+ infinitive
The Subjunctive II
I. Generalities
- the Subjonctive is used to express either a possible action or unreality, improbability, that
is something contrary to fact.
- refers to verb forms used in the expression of many kinds of subordinate clauses for a range
of attitudes including tentativeness, vagueness, uncertainty.
II. The Synthetic Subjunctive
The Present Subjunctive
The Past Subjunctive
The Past Perfect Subjunctive
I. The Present Subjunctive
a. – is identical to the Short Infinitive
- In subordinate clauses is formal.
In informal style it is normally replaced by the subjunctive with should + by the indicative mood + in the case of adjectives by the construction For Accusative+ Infinitive.
E.g.: The headmaster requires that the boy should be punctual.
If it is so, I should insist.
If is vital for the patient to be operated on urgently.
b. Usage – wishes or set expressions
in subordinate that-clauses
i) Direct object clauses
ii) Subject clauses
iii) Appositive attributive clauses
-in conditional clauses
2. The Past Subjunctive
a) Formation
it has the form of the simple past tense of the indicative mood with the exception of the lexical verb BE which in formal style is WERE for all persons
known as unreal past’
b) Usage
i) in conditional clauses to express a Present Conditional expresses unreality, improbability
ii) after hypothetical constructions to express simultaneity
The constructions are called hypothetical because they indicate unreality, improbability, doubt for the present or future.
They are: - wish
as if/though
if only
suppose ==) ≠ subject
it’s time
would rather / sooner
Careful!
- it’s time+subj vs. for+accusative+to
-when the subject if would rather / sooner = the subject of the action which follows ►
short Infinitive
The Past Perfect Subjunctive
a) it has the form of the simple past perfect tense of the indicative mood
b) Usage
i) in conditional clauses type III -unfulfilled condition.
ii) after hypothetical constructions to express .. referring to a real or imaginary action or state.
High = din it’s high time= can be added to emphasize this idea
III The Analytical Subjunctive
Form
modal auxiliary verbs + Present / Perfect Infinitive of the verb
it is much more frequently used than the Synthetic S.
It may occur both in main and suburdinate clauses.
Shall+ infinitive in main clauses
in subordinate clauses
Should + infinitive in main clauses
in subordinate clauses : - Subject clauses
-Conditional clauses.
-Direct object clauses
-Purpose clauses
-Appositive clauses.
-Concessive clauses
May/ Might + Infinitive
in main clauses
in subordinate clauses : - Subject Clauses.
- Purpose clauses.
- Concessive clauses.
Would + Infinitive
in subordinate clauses – Direct object clauses
- Purpose clauses.
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