Course on Subjunctive - TOEIC® Preparation
The subjunctive is used to express a wish, an order, a recommendation, advice, a necessity, or something unreal (for example, when talking about hypothetical situations). In French, it is used after verbs like « vouloir que », « souhaiter que », etc.
- I suggest that he study more.
- It is essential that she be on time.
There are two main forms of the subjunctive: - The present subjunctive (sometimes called “mandative subjunctive”) - The past subjunctive, which often boils down to the form “were” instead of “was” in certain constructions.
1. The Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive (also called mandative subjunctive) is often used after verbs or expressions that express:
- A necessity or obligation:
- to insist that...
- to demand that...
- to require that...
- to order that...
- A wish or recommendation:
- to recommend that...
- to suggest that...
- to propose that...
- An importance or decision:
- it is important that...
- it is essential that...
- it is vital that...
How to form the present subjunctive?
The present subjunctive in English is formed with "that", followed by the base form of the verb (the infinitive without "to") without "s" in the third person singular.
- ✅ I suggest that he leave now.
❌ I suggest that he leaves now. - ✅ They demand that she be on time.
❌ They demand that she is on time. - It is important that everyone participate.
The present subjunctive with should
In modern English, it is also possible to use the auxiliary "should" to form the present subjunctive. However, the pure form of the subjunctive is always correct and considered more formal.
| Pure form | Form with should |
|---|---|
| I suggest that he study | I suggest that he should study |
| They insisted that she be present | They insisted that she should be present |
2. The Past Subjunctive
In English, the past subjunctive is mainly used to talk about imaginary situations or wishes. The most common form is were (instead of "was") with the verb to be.
To form the past subjunctive, were is used instead of was (for all persons singular and plural: I, you, he, she, we, they) when talking about a hypothetical situation or a regret.
- To express a wish or regret (after I wish or If only)
- I wish I were taller.
- If only she were more patient.
- For imaginary conditions (in the second conditional):
- If I were rich, I would travel the world.
- If he were here, he would help us.
- If I were in your place, I would study harder.
- If I were rich, I would travel the world.
It is increasingly common to hear "If I was you" or "I wish I was taller" in informal conversations. However, in a formal context or in an exam, "If I were you" remains the correct and traditional form.
Conclusion
The subjunctive in English may seem less "visible" than in French, but it plays an essential role in expressing hypothesis, wish, necessity, or suggestion.
To recap:
- Present subjunctive: verb in the base form, without "-s" in the 3rd person singular, used after verbs or expressions expressing a necessity, a recommendation, or an importance.
- It is important that he finish the report.
- Past subjunctive: essentially "were" instead of "was" for hypothetical or wishes sentences.
- If I were you, I'd listen carefully.
Even if some more "modern" forms tend to replace these subjunctives, it is important to know them, especially in an academic context or during the TOEIC®.