The subjunctive mood in English

The subjunctive mood in English – a guide to usage Definitions In the English language, verbs are used in contexts called moods These verbal moods are: • • • indicative – simple statement or question (Jill picks up the ball.) imperative – a command (Jill, pick up the ball !) subjunctive – a statement contrary to fact, a wish, a mandative statement (I request that Jill pick up the ball.) There are varying definitions of the subjunctive in English Webster's New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines subjunctive as “in grammar, designating or of that mood of a verb used to express condition, hypothesis, contingency, possibility, etc., rather than to state an actual fact: distinguished from imperative, indicative.” One important note: many scholars have dismissed the persistence of the subjunctive in its unmarked form, that is, when it is indistinguishable from the indicative “I wish you were here” and “I wish they were here” are every bit in the subjunctive as “I wish she were here” Just because “you” and “they” take “were” in both moods does not negate the existence of the subjunctive Trust that in the earlier days of English, when verbs were distinguished by inflection (e.g., different ending forms), the indicative and subjunctive were quite distinct A hallmark of the subjunctive is that tenses are often mixed – one says “I wish [present] she were [past? – ah, subjunctive] here” instead of “I wish [present] she is [present indicative, but incorrect] here” Learning by examples Counterfactual statements If I were you, then I would not that I am not you, however, so I use the subjunctive to express this hypothetical or counterfactual condition Especially note that the modern usage If I was you is completely incorrect If only she were here, then she would speak up She is not here, however, so the subjunctive expresses that fact appropriately Again, If only she was has drifted into modern usage and should be avoided We should act as if he were watching We doubt that he is watching or know that he is not It is as though she were here We know she is not here, but it seems so Wishful statements She wishes she were not here The modern usage She wishes she was is incorrect He wishes he had a hammer Without the subjuctive, this would be constructed in the indicative as He wishes he has a hammer, but the indicative is incorrect I wish I knew This formulation is distinctly different the following indicative statement: I wish I know (which makes no sense) The indicative is inappropriate here Conjunctive formulations Do this now, lest you be harried later Lest typically takes the subjunctive He keeps the faith, though he face so many trials Here, though takes the subjunctive This sounds very pretentious Whether it be true, we shall proceed They like all dogs, be they large or small, short or tall, For more information Finney C E A (1999) Examples of the subjunctive mood in English Harsh W (1968) The subjunctive in English (University, Alabama: University of Alabama Press) Hirtle W H (1964) The English present subjunctive CJL/RCL 9(2): 75-82 James F (1986) Semantics of the English subjunctive (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, ISBN 0-7748-0255-3) Khlebnikova I B (1976) The conjunctive mood in English (The Hague: Mouton & Company, ISBN 90-2793-404-5) Miscellaneous The English subjunctive: scholarly opinions Övergaard G (1995) The mandative subjunctive in American and British English in the 20th century (Uppsala: University of Uppsala, ISBN 91-554-3675-5) Turner J F (1980) The marked subjunctive in contemporary English Studia Neophilologica 52: 271-277 Examples of the subjunctive mood in English Common expressions These are sometimes termed formulaic subjunctives • be that as it may blessed be ! • far be it from me • if it please the court • • if need be • truth be told • God bless [you | her | him | them | us every one] • come what may • [God | Heaven] forbid ! • perish the thought • God save [the alpacas | the Queen | the King | our merry band] • suffice it to say Specific examples in different media These examples are in reverse chronological order “Overheard” denotes examples overheard in conversation (I was not eavesdropping, I just have active ears !), and “Conversation” denotes uses by others in conversations in which I participated (to maintain privacy, some names have been omitted) Words in the subjunctive are in bold; words associated with the subjunctive are underlined My additions or modifying comments are placed in [square brackets] I wish it were summer Subject line, email spam (2004-01-04) It's important that our Judiciary be full George W Bush, President of the U.S (2002-05-09) Hassan asks that a shaman abstract a talc cataplasm that can thwart a blatant rash (raw scars that can scar a man's scalp and gall a man's glans: scratch, scratch) Christian Bök (2001) Eunoia, ISBN 1-55245-092-9, p 30 The ultimate goal of the Arabs is that the distinction be made News, National Public Radio (USA) (2001-01-19) It's not really vital he be involved in this call Conversation (2001-04-03) It seemed fated that the project take its name from the Scripture celebrating renewal Ed Marcum, The News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee) (2001-03-21) If it were not for the pleadings of my granddaughter, you would be dead already If you weren't a Doone, I could almost like you From the movie, Lorna Doone (2000) (A&E, US television) (2001-0311) If only the weather were this reliable Walgreens advertisement (US television) (2001-02-17) Harris was determined that the film be authentic CBS Sunday Morning (US television) (2001-02-11) After vehemently defending the procedures outlined in the many articles, KB's, and publications from MS regarding the best practices of EFS use, I have come across some new information (to me, anyway) which mandatesthat I consume a morsel of crow “Attonbitus Deus”, BugTraq (2001-01-30) Growing up, my mother was so concerned that we not be brought up as “cheap” Irish It was so important to my mother that we be thought of as classic, “lace-curtain” Irish Conan O'Brien, Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2001-01-23) I did not dictate to the President how he go about Robert Ray, on This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts (US television) (2001-01-21) Lord help us Sign in the inaugural procession for George Walker Bush (2001-0120) – Dr Clive, this is hardly helpful – Helpful be damned ! From the miniseries Horatio Hornblower, episode “Mutiny” or “Retribution” (US television) (2001) – I wish it were enough – If it were, then you wouldn't be the man I feel in love with From the series “Andromeda”, episode #108 “The Banks of the Lethe” (US television) (2000-11-20) This would be wise advice, if only the situation were like that – if the job were done and it were time to relax If only that were true! But challenges abound, and this is no time to take the future for granted —— If “the job” really were done, if there were nothing at stake except credit, perhaps it would be wiser to let the matter drop But we are not in that position Richard Stallman, “By any other name ”, commentary on AnchorDesk (2000-10-13) The Gore campaign is eager that their candidate step out of the shadows Anthony Brooks (correspondent), All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-08-15) [“Their”, “its”, same difference ] If that had failed, he would have urged that the matter be resolved in a family court [approximate quotation] Anthony Brooks (correspondent), All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-04-25) It is imperative that everyone play pianissimo during the spoken monologue From the series “Frasier” (US television) (2000-04-13) We are adamant that that not happen Conversation (2000-04-04) Last year, North Carolina became the first to mandate its police collect such data, and after being threatened with federal investigations, New Jersey and Maryland reached agreements with the federal government ensuring that state troopers would no longer pull over cars based on the driver's skin color Cheryl Corley (correspondent), All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-03-30) It is in the interest of the United States that Russia be a democracy That is [essentially] a good thing Strobe Talbot, US Deputy Secretary of State, interviewed on Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-03-29) They recommend he remain in jail for another six months until the next review Barbara Bradley (correspondent), All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-03-27) And that should put you to rest on any terrain, be it off road or on Jeep advertisement (US television) (2000-03-27) He wishes he were us now Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Conan O'Brien (2000-02-15) Apartment Sen William Lambeth II presented a bill that the SGA request the university add the official abbreviation of campus buildings – what students see in the timetable - to each building sign “Useless bills”, lead editorial in The Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) (2000-01-27) [Note that “request the university add” also is an instance of the mandative subjunctive.] Mendoza called the junta's action an effort to “prevent a bloodbath” amid the Indians' revolt and asked that the military officers who backed the uprising not be punished “Vice president takes over power in Ecuador”, article on cnn.com (2000-01-22) It is extremely urgent that we talk with you right now, sir From the series “The X-Files” (US television) (2000-01-16) The court blocked an Immigration and Naturalization Service order that the boy be returned to his father in Cuba News reader, All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (2000-01-10) But if you were a scientist, I think you should ask yourself the same question Marilyn vos Savant, “Ask Marilyn” (weekly column), Parade Magazine (2000-01-09) [Emphasis on “were” added by vos Savant.] It's essential that my kids pitch in Marie Osmond, quoted in “Life is a matter of choices”, Parade Magazine (2000-01-09) According to a separate lawsuit, another Nichiei employee demanded a debtor sell his daughter into prostitution —— Twenty-eight of Warsaw(Poland)'s 42 prime-location restrooms were leased in early 1999 to private companies on the condition that they renovate and maintain the toilets —— A group of Albanians demanded that the U.N Mission in Kosovo put its mascot stray dog, Unmik, to sleep because he is “Serbian” Chuck Shepherd, “News of the weird” (weekly syndicated column), Metro Pulse (Knoxville, Tennessee), p 35 (2000-01-06) Installing the server requires that an intruder first compromise a machine by different means CERT Advisory CA-99-17 Denial-of-Service Tools (1999-1228) YTcracker, a 17-year-old from Colorado Springs, Colo., said he routinely sends messages to government Web site administrators insisting that they address vulnerabilities and adopt Unix or other more secure systems, but the messages largely go ignored “Feds leave doors open for hackers”, article on cnn.com (1999-1222) The deal requires that teachers join the union Claudio Sanchez (correspondent), All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-12-20) My holiday wish is that nobody go to Lou's Burritos Conan O'Brien, Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1999-12) It is very important that the charge nurse and the attending physician work together throughout the shift Unknown (interview), “On the Inside”, on The Discovery Channel (US television) (1999-12-01) I was going to request that they [television sets] be turned down Conversation with Allison Miller (1999-12-01) I requested that I stay near Knoxville Conversation with Allison Miller (1999-12-01) At that time, he also set these parameters: that the obverse design be of one or more women, that it not depict a living person, and that the design maintain a dignity befitting the nation's coinage The Golden Dollar Coin: Frequently Asked Questions, on-line document from the U.S Mint (www.usmint.gov) (1999-11-24) I would respectfully suggest that you keep to your cabin From the miniseries Horatio Hornblower, episode “The Duchess and the Devil” (US television) (1999) She said company lawyers also have demanded the Web site be transferred to their authority Associated Press, printed in The News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee), p D4 (1999-11-21) I took all of the necessary information, but because of her attitude I did not insist that we call for a police officer Letter to the syndicated column Smart Money, printed in The NewsSentinel (Knoxville, Tennessee), p D2 (1999-11-21) The car is programmed to respond sluggishly, the way it might if the driver were indeed intoxicated Newscaster, WBIR-TV (Knoxville, Tennessee) (1999-11-20) Albright was an attorney, but more importantly, he was a conservationist, and a man who advocated that national parks be spread all across the county to preserve and interpret natural and cultural features and serve people Coggins A (1999) Place Names of the Smokies, ISBN 0-93720723-3, p 23 To deal with these problems of redundant and dual place names, the National Park Service and the U.S Board of Geographic Names requested that a nomenclature committee be established in each state Coggins A (1999) Place Names of the Smokies, ISBN 0-93720723-3, p 13 But if it weren't so big, it wouldn't be nearly so fun Commentator, ESPN (US television) (1999-11-20) I was going to recommend that you buy a second-hand pickup truck, a beater Click (or Clack), Car Talk, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-11-20) However, for your safety, we require that you keep your seat belt fastened at all times while seated Flight attendant, Delta Airlines (1999-11-19) I think it is very critical that Bill Bradley address those issues which politicians have avoided Unknown (interview), Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-11-15) But Parks, upset over the group's “vulgarity and profanity,” is suing for $25,000 and has asked that her name beremoved from all OutKast products “Rosa Parks sues OutKast”, article on cnn.com (1999-11-05) Husbands, especially if there were a lot of property involved, needed to know that their heirs were legitimate Unknown (interview), “The History of Sex”, on The History Channel (US television) (1999-11-03) Hadrian decreed that a new temple be built in the honor of Jupiter Unknown (interview), “The Great Empire: Rome”, on The History Channel (US television) (1999-11-03) The FAA has since mandated that [this early-warning radar system] never be disabled [approximate quotation] Correspondent, All Things Considered, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-11-02) The group with the most votes, whether it be the university community or health care professionals, will win “Right to vote”, lead editorial in The Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) (1999-09-29) [Next lesson: hyphenation of compound modifiers (health-care professionals)] Giuliani demanded the Brooklyn Museum cancel the exhibition; the museum refused Brooke Gladstone, Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-09-29) It is imperative that we keep this confidential From the movie, Highway But director John Tiernan insisted that she lose her pleasing personality and get more in touch with her sensuality People, p 105 (1999-09-13) he also suggested to the board that a business manager be hired to help things run more smoothly Metro Pulse (Knoxville, Tennessee), p (1999-09-02) It turns out that thermoneutral is 84 degrees [Fahrenheit], but that's if you're naked So if we lived in a society where everyone was naked, or everyone were naked, perhaps I should say, then 84 degrees would be our chosen temperature for at least sitting around inside an office Joe Palca, Morning Edition, National Public Radio (USA) (1999-07-07) [He falsely corrected himself, thinking of the subjunctive hypothetical phrase earlier in the sentence Radio talk often precludes real-time correction “If we lived (but we don't)” is in the subjunctive; he probably was thinking “If everyone were naked (but they're not)”.] It is very crucial that we make it successful Co-owner and Tea Taster, Charleston Tea Plantation, CNN Headline News (1999-04-24) Were I he, Overheard (1999-01-28) [Bless you, sir ! This is much better than, “If I was him, ”] God help our country's future if we decide otherwise Manager Rogan in the trial of President William Jefferson Clinton (1999-01-08?) God save freshmeat and Linus Comment on freshmeat.net (1999-01-02) It was at about this time that there came the first indication that it might be better if Doctor Minor now be allowed to return to the United States, to spend his declining years - as he did seem to be in decline - close to his family Winchester S (1998) The Professor and the Madman, ISBN 0-06017596-6, p 185 He wants, but knows that he can never demand, that praise be showered on him Winchester S (1998) The Professor and the Madman, ISBN 0-06017596-6, p 156 There was a man in there who knew exactly what he wanted, and I found myself wishing I were as lucky as he From the movie, You've Got Mail (1998) It is critical that I see them From the movie, Sphere (1998) Both bones were porous, as if the virus or causative organism were consuming them From the movie, X-Files (1998) I'm going to ask you a question, and it is absolutely imperative that you tell the truth From the movie, Enemy of the State (1998) I demand you release him now If he didn't buy a bushel of vegetables each week, I'd spit on him I insist you return my things to me at once Then I suggest that you run The King demanded that you arrive in style All I ask Your Majesties is that you show her the same courtesies as she has bestowed on me From the movie, Ever After (1998) It is also necessary that a test statistic not be invariant with respect to a given hypotheses [sic] Small M, Judd K (1998) “Detecting nonlinearity in experimental data”, International Journal of Bifurcation and Chaos 8, p 1234 When we get back to London, you'll be paid in full, provided we have favorable opinion Inspector, if it weren't absolutely genuine, then why would they steal it ? From the movie, Incognito (1997) If I were a fascist, then I would have sent you to one of those Southern military academies a long time ago From the movie, Ice Storm (1997) That's why it is important that this be done today From the movie, The Eighteenth Angel (1997) I would recommend that you release him immediately From the movie, Twist of Fate (1997) In fact, it is essential that you experience pleasure From the movie, Wildly Available (1996) Junior's inheritance is based on the provision that he divorce that [censored] Irene From the movie, The Naked Detective (1996) I simply requested, politely, that she refrain from spying on my family From the movie, Last of the High Kings (1996) In order to control intersymbol interference, it is desirable that 1's not be too close together, or equivalently that runs of 0's not be too short Marcus B (1995) “Symbolic dynamics and coding applications”, Plenary Lecture at the 1995 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory God rot all royals - give us the wisdom of America From the movie, The Madness of King George (1994) I wish this [censored] night were over From the movie, Schindler's List (1993) An important requirement for equilibrium is that the temperature be uniform throughout the system or each part of the system in contact If this condition were not met, spontaneous heat transfer from one location to another could occur while the system is isolated Moran MJ, Shapiro HN (1992) Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics (2nd edition), ISBN 0-471-57117-2, p 656 If the heat release were spatially and temporally distributed, not much return would be expected to the acoustic field Yu KH, Trouvé A, Daily JW (1991) “Low-frequency pressure oscillations in a model ramjet combustor”, Journal of Fluid Mechanics 232, p 49 Tell me, Stuart, lest your children be born slugs of cold flesh From the movie, Warlock (1989) [One of my favorite quotations!] If he knew the mountains, he would go alone He doesn't, so he needs a guide From the movie, Shoot to Kill (1988) I suggest we open out orders, Captain I must emphasize the extreme sensitivity of this information and that it not leave this room Prudence demands that we deploy our ships to watch yours Negative Fuel status says we turn around now From the movie, The Hunt for Red October (1987) God guide your decision From the movie, The Scarlet and the Black (1983) What if I granted you a kingdom? From the movie, Flash Gordon (1980) If there were any other purpose to what we were doing, only the orca knew it From the movie, Orca (1977) A sufficient condition, familiar from the calculus, is that L be concave in theta Bickel PJ, Doksum KA (1977) Mathematical Statistics, ISBN 0-13564147-0, p 102 If that were for real, how big would that measure ? From the movie, King Kong (1975) If possible, I'd prefer the Gestapo be kept out of these matters From the movie, Where Eagles Dare (1969) You went so far as to argue that the colony be abolished I respectfully submit that you order that man to step aside I wish I were back in England From the series (US television) “Wild, Wild West” (1965-1969) I will be under oath, and I might have to tell them that it was I who found LeBeau and it was I who told you how to smoke him out, unless, unless LeBeau were released from the cooler From the series (US television) “Hogan's Heroes” (1965-1971) What would happen if somebody were to blow up that bridge? From the movie, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966) Didn't you see the directive that all personnel be clean-shaven, Commander Eddington ? From the movie, In Harm's Way (1965) Mister Preseident, under Condition Red, it is standard procedure that the base be sealed off from outside contact From the movie, Dr Strangelove (1964) It is as though you had become Messala If you were not a bride, I would kiss you goodbye If I were not a bride, there would be no goodbyes to be said From the movie, Ben-Hur (1959) Don't look at me as if I were crazy! From the movie, The Caine Mutiny (1954) If only I were a man for one short hour I would she were From the movie, Ivanhoe (1952) Walk on through the wind, walk on through the rain, though your dreams be tossed and blown From the song, “You'll Never Walk Alone”, sung by Mario Lanza, BMG Classics 60720-2-RG (RCA Victor) (album released 1991; recorded 1950s) If this be madness, then call it madness From the song, “Beloved”, sung by Mario Lanza, RCA Camden Classics CAD1-450 (album released 1987; recorded 1950s) –How about a bazooka ? –If we had one From the movie, Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) [This is a classic example: If we had a bazooka (but I don't think we do), then we would use it If we have a bazooka (conditional statement), then we will use it.] in general, this has a negligible effect on the correlogram, but if the grouping be very drastic, it is possible to introduce corrections analogous to Sheppard's corrections Cunningham LBC, Hynd WRB (1946) Discussion to “Symposium on autocorrelation in time series”, Supplement to the Journal of the Royal Statistical Society 8, p 97 I wish I didn't love you so much From the movie, Casablanca (1942) I feel about Wilmer here as if he were my own son From the movie, The Maltese Falcon (1941) If you were really great and powerful, you'd keep your promises From the movie, The Wizard of Oz (1939) I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener That is what I'd really like to be 'Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener, everyone would be in love with me Advertisement (1930s) The sentence of the court is that you be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for two years Mr Justice Wills, pronouncing sentence on Oscar Wilde (1895-05-25) If it be, why seems it so particular with thee? (I:2) Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comest us such a questionable shape that I will speak to thee (I:4) now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now (V:2) William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (xxxx) Where is the subjunctive ? Yeah, but they wouldn't find the body if there was nothing left to find From the movie, Stranger Than Fiction (1999) If only everything was as dependable as a Chevy Chevrolet advertisement (US television) (2000-05-29) [Note the shameless takeoff of the Toyota tagline (below).] It would be ironic if this was the team [to get that done] Commentator, ESPN (US television) (1999-11-20) Such information could be vital if an asteroid was on a collision course with earth, although the main purpose of the exercise is to help solve the age-old puzzle of how planets are formed “Theory: Some asteroids may be like celestial sponges”, article by Reuters on cnn.com (1999-11-11) Imagine the heads the student body would turn if the SGA was able to turn in 15,000 applications for voter registration “Right to vote”, lead editorial in The Daily Beacon (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) (1999-09-29) Wish food was here Kodak advertisement (US television) (1999-09-09) If it was me, Overheard (1999-09-08) If only everything was as reliable as a Corolla Toyota advertisement (US television) (1999-09-07) If he was a rabbit, what would you ? From the cartoon, Bugs Bunny, episode “Rabbit Seasoning” (1940s or 1950s) [How will our children learn if their cartoons confuse them ? We need a School House Rock on the subjunctive !] The English subjunctive: scholarly opinions N.B This page contains brief excerpts from different scholarly works, some of which may be copyrighted Inclusion on this page is intended to comply with provisions of “fair use” regarding scholarship and education, according to my understanding of relevant laws and conventions If you believe me in error, please email me Any of the entries on this page may at any time be removed Directory • Baugh AC (1935) A history of the English language Berk LM (1999) English syntax: from word to discourse • Fowler HW (1926) A dictionary of modern English usage • Jespersen O (1905) Growth and structure of the English language • Vallins GH (1956) The pattern of English • Baugh (1935) Baugh AC (1935) A history of the English language (New York: D Appleton-Century Company) Section 235, page 409: There has been some schoolmastering of the language The substitution of you were for you was in the singular occurs about 1820, and it is I is now often considered a social test where propriety is expected What was left of the subjunctive mood in occasional use has disappeared except in conditions contrary to fact (if I were you) Berk (1999) Berk LM (1999) English syntax: from word to discourse (New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-512353-0) Pages 149-150: Subjunctive Mood Like the term imperative, the term subjunctive refers to a particular verb form In Old English, special verb forms existed to communicate non-facts, e.g., wants, hopes, and hypothetical situations The subjunctive is somewhat weak in Modern English, but there are speakers who use it routinely In many cases, the subjunctive is a form learned in school or through reading, so it is educated speakers who use it most The modern subjunctive expresses a variety of deontic meanings [N.B deontic refers to a sense of duty or obligation, of something which is required or desired.] Mandative subjunctive So far we have examined three different ways of issuing directives – modals, semi-auxiliaries, and the imperative.The subjunctive can also be used as a directive The term mandative derives from the Latin root for mandate, “a command or order” The mandative subjunctive is a very distinct kind of directive and it always takes the same form I suggest [that he leave] I beg [that he return the money] I demanded [that she give me her files] We asked [that Marsha tell the truth] Beth moved [that the meeting be adjourned] I insist [that you be quiet] I require [that term papers be turned in on time] In each of these sentences, the main verb makes some sort of demand, from very mild (ask/suggest) to very strong (demand/insist) In each case, the direct object of the main verb is a clause (the structure in brackets) Note that when the subject of the clause is third person, its verb does not take third person {-s} and be is in its infinitive form These atypical verb forms are the vestiges of the Old English subjunctive system The same meaning can be communicated by a verb in present tense – We insist that Marsha tells the truth or by a modal auxiliary – We insist that Marsha must tell the truth Technically, however, these are not subjunctive utterances because they lack subjunctive verb forms All of these sentences are directives, however.[*] [*] This statement bears clarification, as what Berk says is not wholly correct Compare two sentences (alternate meanings are in parentheses): • We insist that Marsha tells the truth (We aver or claim emphatically that Marsha tells or does tell the truth.) [indicative mood] • We insist that Marsha tell the truth (We demand or require that Marsha must or should tell the truth.) [subjunctive mood] In this example, there is a very big difference between tell and tells, partly because insist has two different meanings Berk errs when she says that the first example (insist that Marsha tells) is a directive – if meant as an indicative statement, then tells is correct; if meant as a directive, then tell is correct, and Berk advocates using a poorly formed sentence The strict mandative subjunctive (insist that Marsha tell) or the modal auxiliary (insist that Marsha must tell) form should be used (also note that with the verb insist, a gerundial form may be employed: We insist on Marsha telling the truth.) Volitional subjunctive Just as there are volitional modals, there are volitional subjunctive constructions These, too, exploit unusual verb forms – I wish I were a bird; Joseph wishes he were a cowboy The use of were with first and third singular subjects is also a remnant of the old subjunctive system I wish I was a bird expresses exactly the same meaning, but technically was is not a subjunctive form The subjunctive is gradually disappearing in English and even highly educated speakers sometimes use non-subjunctive forms in such utterances Formulaic subjunctive English has a small set of phrases and sayings that are so old that they still contain uniquely marked subjunctive verbs These utterances are learned as whole pieces, often as part of religious liturgy The expression God bless you contains a third person subject and an uninflected verb This sentence is communicating, not a statement of fact, i.e., God blesses you, but rather a wish on the part of the speaker, i.e., I hope that God blesses you Some remnants of the formulaic subjunctive in Judeo-Christian liturgy are: The Lord make his face shine upon thee Thy kingdom come, thy will be done There are formulaic subjunctives that are less tied to liturgy, but most still have a religious cast God save the Queen Heaven forbid God be with you God help him Be that as it may Long live the King Fowler (1926) Fowler HW (1926) A dictionary of modern English usage (Oxford) SUBJUNCTIVES The word is very variously used in grammar The subjunctives here to be considered (1) exclude those, often so called, in which the modal effect is given by an auxiliary such asmay (that he may it ; cf that he it) let (let it be so ; cf be it so) or shall (until he shall be dead ; cf.until he be dead ; & (2) include any verb that is understood to be modally different from the indicative but is either indistinguishable from it in form or distinguished otherwise than by an auxiliary ; in “that he learn” it is clear that learn is subjunctive ; in “that we learn” it is not ; in “that we, he, may learn” there is no subjunctive that concerns us in this article ; any verb of the kind that has now been loosely indicated is for our present purpose a subjunctive, whether or not it is more specifically known as imperative (sing we merrily), conditional of the apodosis (it were more seemly) or of the protasis (if it please you), optative (had I but the power !), indirect question (When I ask her if she love me), indefinite future clause (till he die), or by any other such name About the subjunctive, so delimited, the important general facts are : (1) that is is moribund except in a few easily specified uses ; (2) that, owing to the capricious influence of the much analysed classical upon the less studied native moods, it probably never would have been possible to draw up a satisfactory table of the English subjunctive uses ; (3) that assuredly no-one will ever find it possible or worth while now that the subjunctive is dying ; (4) that subjunctives met with today, outside the few truly living uses, are either deliberate revivals by poets for legitimate enough archaic effect, or antiquated survivals as in pretentious journalism, infecting their context with dullness, or new arrivals possible only in an age to which the grammar of the subjunctive is not natural but artificial Jespersen (1905) Jespersen O (1905) Growth and structure of the English language (Leipzig: B.G Tuebner) Section 206, page 205: While the number of tenses has been increased, the number of moods has tended to diminish, the subjunctive having now very little vital power left Most of its forms have become indistinguishable from those of the indicative, but the loss is not a serious one, for the thought is just as clearly expressed in “if he died”, where died may be either indicative or subjunctive, as in “if he were dead”, where the verb has a distinctly subjunctive form Vallins (1956) Vallins GH (1956) The pattern of English (London: Andre Deutsch Ltd.) Pages 29-30: The characteristic Old English subjunctive tense endings were e (singular) and -en (plural) These, in the ordinary process of the language, were weakened and lost It follows, then, that the subjunctive differs from the indicative only in those forms where the indicative has inflection – that is, the moribund second person singular and plural, and the third person present singular Of these the third person present singular is the only one that concerns us here: the subjunctive corresponding with the indicative “he sings”, “he walks” is “(if) he sing”, “(if) he walk” More important, for syntactical reasons discussed later (pp 39-40), is the survival of separate subjunctive forms of the verb be: be for all persons, singular and plural, in the present tense, and were for all persons in the past singular The older grammarians had strange ideas concerning the nature of this subjunctive inflection Ben Jonson, for example, evidently thinks of it as a plural Some nouns, he says, though singular, “require a verb plurall – especially when the verbe is joyned to an adverbe, or conjunction: It is preposterous to execute a man, before he have been condemned” Joseph Priestley (1761) has a curious note on it: This form of the conjunctive subjunctive tenses is very little used by some writers of the present age; though our forefathers paid a very strict and scrupulous regard to it It seems to be used with propriety only when there is implied some doubt or hesitation; since when an event is looked upon as absolutely certain, though in speaking of it we make use of the conjunctive participles, &c the usual change of terminations is retained: to give a familiar example of this; we should say, in pursuing a person, We shall overtake him though he run; not knowing whether he did run or not; whereas upon seeing him run, we should say, We shall overtake him though he runneth, or runs Almost all the irregularities in the construction of any language arise from the ellipsis of some words which were originally inserted in the sentence, and made it regular: let us endeavour to explain this manner of speaking, by tracing out the original elipsis: may we not suppose that the word run in this sentence is in the radical form (which answers to theinfinitive mood in other languages) requiring regularly to be preceded by another verb expressing doubt or uncertainty, and the intire sentence to be, We shall overtake him though he should run? Cobbett has the same idea He seems to consider it “the infinitive of the verb without any change at all”, the sign (i.e auxiliary) being understood Pages 38-39: The use of should, may, might, would in main clauses, and in subordinate clauses, especially after if, is bound up with the disappearance of the inflectional subjunctive In Old English the inflected forms of the verb remained and were regularly used, as in Latin and Modern French, after certain conjunctions where a potential rather than a positive or indicative action was implied in the sense Here we have the origin of those compound tenses, made up of the auxiliaries should, may, might, would with the infinitive, which now express, in both main and subordinate clauses, that indeterminate action usually expressed in Old English by the subjunctive forms Pages 39-40: In addition, the true inflected subjunctive (see p 29) still survives, especially in main clauses of wish or desire, like “God save the King!” But in subordinate clauses, partly owing to the development of the compound “indeterminate” tenses mentioned above, it has almost disappeared ... speaking, by tracing out the original elipsis: may we not suppose that the word run in this sentence is in the radical form (which answers to theinfinitive mood in other languages) requiring regularly... tense endings were e (singular) and -en (plural) These, in the ordinary process of the language, were weakened and lost It follows, then, that the subjunctive differs from the indicative only in those... of the inflectional subjunctive In Old English the inflected forms of the verb remained and were regularly used, as in Latin and Modern French, after certain conjunctions where a potential rather