SUBJUNCTIVES - What you must know?

 MOODS AND MODAL AUXILIARIES 

The word "modal" originates from the word "mode" which can be likened unto "mood" in grammar. Mood therefore is defined as the manner in which actions are expressed or the study of the various attitudes towards (in response) to a possible action or state of being. In the English Language, there are three moods:

1. INDICATIVE MOOD
2. IMPERATIVE MOOD 
3. SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD  

THE INDICATIVE MOOD

It is the most common mood and it is used to express facts or ask questions either positively or negatively. 

Examples:

I washed yesterday [a fact]

Did you go to school today? [a positive question] 

THE IMPERATIVE MOOD 

This is primarily used for "commands" and "wishes" and it occurs only in the PRESENT TENSE. 

Examples:

Stand up. 

Shut your mouth immediately.

Leave the school premises now. 

Although commands usually do not have a 'subject', when the subject is missing, we assume it as the pronoun 'you'. This can be demonstrated by the use of reflexive pronouns in the formation of question tags. 

Examples:

Stand up, will you? 

Let us also state here that there are no auxiliary verbs in commands except the verb 'DO' which must occur in 'negative commands' and 'positive commands'. 

Examples:

Don't be stupid.

Don't leave your skin unkempt.

Do listen to your mother. 

THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD

It is widely believed that the 'subjunctive verb forms' are old-fashioned i.e. outdated. Notwithstanding, the most common uses of the subjunctive mood are for 'non-factual conditions' and 'wishes' i.e. in wish making. The central idea of the subjunctive mood is the expression of hypothetical events. 

The Subjunctive Mood is of three types: (a) The Mandative (b) The Formulaic and (c) The WERE subjunctives respectively. 

MANDATIVE SUBJUNCTIVE

It is used to express: commands, desires, etc., that must be executed. 

[Subject] + suggest + that….

[Subject] + ask + that…..

[Subject] + recommend + that….

[Subject] + demand + that…

[Subject] + insist + that…

[Subject] + advise + that…

[Subject] + conclude + that…

[Subject] + resolve + that…

[It is best] + that…

[It is important] + that….

[It is necessary] + that…

Whenever any of the above words above are used to show the mandative subjunctive, a present plural verb should be used whether the subject is singular or plural. 

Examples:

The teacher insists that we do the work ourselves.

It is important that you sing in church 

The doctors instructed that he run every morning. 

It is essential that I study engineering

THE FORMULAIC SUBJUNCTIVE 

This is made up of specific patterns or choice of words or ideas that should be used with the base form of a verb. Do not alter the form of the verb irrespective of the tense of the question. They are fixed/set expressions.

Examples:

• Suffice it to say ……
• God save the king…
• Come what may…
•  Be that as it may ….

THE WERE SUBJUNCTIVE

It is hypothetical in context or nature. It is used to express 'regrets' or 'unfulfilled desires' or 'unreal past'. It is easily recognized by the presence of the following expressions:

• I WISH 
• IF ONLY 
• I WOULD RATHER or I'D RATHER 
• SUPPOSING 
• IT IS TIME 
• IT IS HIGH TIME 
• IT IS ABOUT TIME 
• AS IF 
• AS THOUGH

RULES ON THE WERE SUBJUNCTIVE:

1.      For if only, I would rather, I wish, supposing, if a question is given, follow the outlined steps below:

• Know the time of action in the question.
• For a present action use a Past tense verb.
• For a future action use a Past tense verb.
• For a past action use a Past perfect verb i.e. HAD + [ED₂ Verb].

Examples:

I wish I had known how to swim when I was young. [past action]

If only I saw her now [present action]

I’d rather you left for school tomorrow [future action].

2.   Whenever it is time, it is high time or it is about time is used – a past tense verb should follow as well.

Examples:

It is high time we left for the party

It is about time they visited us

It is high time the government didaway with examinations in Nigeria

3.  Whenever as if or as though is used – the verb WEREshould follow.

Examples:

Ngozi talks as though she were the manager.

She speaks as if she were an American

4.  If the preposition “to” comes before any of the WERE – subjunctive, a present tense verb should be used. 

Example: 

It is time to go home

 

5.  “Had better”is not a subjunctive mood, hence, it takes a present tense verb whenever it is used.

Examples:

If you want peace, you had better getready for war.

You had better answer my questions

 

6.  “I would rather”can be used in two forms, which are:

•  [I would rather] + [subject]
• [I would rather] + [no subject] 

Whenever the 1^st form above is used, then obey rule 1 above.  On the other hand, if the 2^nd form is tested, a present tense verb should be used.

Examples:

[I would rather] + [you] wenthome now. [1^st form].

[I would rather] gohome now. [2^nd form].

 

7.  Whenever a question begins with I wish and you are given options to choose from the verbs is/am/was/were, give preference to WERE over the others irrespective of the nature of subject i.e. whether it is singular or plural.

Examples:

• Supposing she ____ your wife, what would you have done? (a) was (b) is (c) were. Ans: C
• How I wish my father _____ alive (a) is (b) was (c) were. Ans: C