The subjonctive

The subjonctive

The subjonctive is with the reference to unreal/improbable action or situations. It expresses wish, doubt, surprise, regret, etc.

In exclamation expressing a wish or hope (concerning the future) we use the present subjonctive (identical in form with the short infinitive).

E.g.: Long live the queen!

God bless you!

Heaven help us!

Come what may!

In statements expressing a not very hopeful wish with regard to the future 16416u208q we use,

Wish/if only + would (+short Infinitive)

E.g.: I wish they wouldn't insist so much.

I wish you would help your sister.

I wish I would visit Rome.

If only he wouldn't object to everything.

If only she would tell the truth.

If only the news would reach him in time.

If only+would also suggests regret about a present action as an alternative to

If only + past tense

E.g.: If only he wouldn't smoke so much.

In statements expressing regret with regard to a past action we use Wish/ if only + past tense or past perfect,

E.g.: I wish it weren't so late.

I wish I didn't take now.

If only he filled the tank before we started.

I wish I had been told what was going on.

I wished he hadn't done that.

If only you hadn't forgotten your passport.

In statements expressing reproach concerning time (it's already too late for an action to be performed) we use: it's (high) time + past tense,

E.g.: It's time somebody taught him a lesson.

It's high time you grew up.

It's about time he was here.

It's time for(+ Acc.+Infinitive) is an altenative but it implies the correct time

has arrived (and nothing more).

* In statements expressing doubt or improbability we use as if/as though+past

tense or past perfect

E.g.: He stood up as if he meant to go.

He behaves as though he were the boss.

She looks as if she had walked six miles.

You spoke to her as if she had been your friend.

It was as though he had not died.

* In order to express preference we use would rather(+Subject)+Past tense (if the

persson who expresses the preference is not the Subject of the action that follows)

E.g.: I'd rather he didn't speak so much.

We'd rather they stayed at the hotel.

He'd rather you paid your rent in time.

Would prefer+Acc+Infinitive may be used as an alternative (there is no difference

in meaning).

* We use that...should(+short infinitive) in statements expressing:

a) advisability or necessity,after:it is(or was) advisable/better/important/necessary reasonable,vital,etc.,as well as after verbs like:to advise, to command, to order, to propose, to recommend,to urge, etc.,

E.g.: 1.)It's better that he should learn from his parents.

It's only fair that each should have his share of money paid right now.

It's essential that they should leave somebody in chargeof the shop.

It's only natural that you should think so.

2.)The standard of the economist's profession requires that his empirical results (should) be useful for practical policy.

He advised that you should tackle him about it at once.

I insisted that she (should) let them go

The boss urged the letter should be sent at once.

If the verb expressing what is advisable or necessary is to be,should is often dropped.

b) determination or agreement, after verbs like: to be anxious, to be determined, to agree, to arrange, to demand, to stipulate,etc.(in the past tense),

E.g.: I was determined everybody should be informed about.

They agreed that you should approache this problem first.

We stipulated that the price should be cut down.

When tense verbs are used in the present tense, that is followed by will.

c)surprise, after: it is absurd/ amazing/ annoying/ ridiculous/ strange/etc.

E.g.:It's strange that they should agree on it.

Why should he obey?

What should he see there but the mess they're left?

Where should I have left it but in the house.

I see no reason why you should have done that.

* In statements expressing anxiety we use lest(or, sometimes, in case)+should(+short 

infinitive),

E.g.:We gave them a map lest they should get lost.

I'll put it in my pocket lest I should forget it here.

* In purpose cluses after so that(as an alternative to would or could) we may use

should(+ short infinitive)

E.g.:She put the names down so that you should know who called.