Questions tagged [subjunctive-mood]
Questions regarding the subjunctive verb mood
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Let's agree on this so that we might/may go home early [duplicate]
MIGHT (used with another phrase or clause to express the condition, purpose,
or result of something):
Let's agree on this so that (as a result) we might/may go home early
https://www.wordreference.com/...
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Use of conditional and subjunctive in past tense narration [duplicate]
I am helping my friend with a story that is written in the past tense, and I've hit a snag with their uses of conditional and subjunctive. I could have sworn that I learned that you use "was"...
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Why is it grammatically correct to say “It’s time she went”? [duplicate]
Consider these possibilities:
It is now time for her to leave home.
It is now time for her to be told.
It is now time (that) she left home.
It is now time (that) she were told.
It is now time (that) ...
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Do verbs following relative pronouns need to be in the past tense if the sentence begins in the subjunctive?
"I would prefer someone who was a bit more sincere about their beliefs."
vs.
"I would prefer someone who's a bit more sincere about their beliefs."
The second sounds more correct ...
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2answers
186 views
Tense in subjunctive sentence
The divorce won’t affect the money that has already been given to the
foundation trust, but the couple may devote less money to it over time
than they would have if they had stayed together.
The tail ...
5
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1answer
253 views
Subjunctive in English. Is it used for politeness?
The usual explanation I get for expressions such as "How much did you want to spend, sir?" is that the use of the past tense produces a distance between the present reality and the question, ...
2
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0answers
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The probability that it “be” or “is” — subjunctive?
I am writing a scientific paper, and would like my diction to be as precise as possible. Regarding the subjunctive mood, I know the following is correct:
"It is important that she be at home by ...
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indicative vs subjunctive in terms of conveying meaning
In A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (page 156), the book gives these examples for WERE-SUBJUNCTIVE (for showing the structural differences between indicative vs subjunctive ...
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when the result is unknown for a past counterfactual situation
We normally use the third conditional for describing past counterfactual situations. We use it when we're sure about the occurrence or non-occurrence of both the condition and the result clause (more ...
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1answer
60 views
Varying modal verbs in counterfactual (“subjunctive”) conditionals
There are some situations in which one would like to vary the modal verb in counterfactual conditionals, but it seems to be incorrect.
"If things were otherwise, she would keep her promise."...
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if he be and subjunctive mood
A man may live a very intense life if he be passionately devoted to
field-sports or beetles.
I am guessing the if he be passionately devoted to field-sports or beetles. is a subjunctive clause, ...
2
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1answer
64 views
Should I use subjunctive or indicative mood after “makes it possible that”?
I am editing a text in analytical philosophy, and I came across the following sentence:
Such a mechanism for a term’s designation makes it possible that the idea designated by the term be distinct ...
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2answers
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Subjunctive vs. indicative with conditionals
I was reading this topic from March 2014 and thought Charles’s answer was great until I got to the following part:
The letter claimed exactly the same as the first, namely that if his letter wasn't ...
3
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2answers
653 views
Other than “to be”, what verbs in English change in the subjunctive past tense?
I recently found out that the reason we say ”if I were...” and not “if I was...” (though some argue both are correct) is because “to be” is irregular in the subjunctive past. Are there any other verbs ...
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To know vs Would know
Mary: "Does he have any enemies here?"
Bill: "Not that I know of."
or
Bill: "Not that I would know of."
Is there a difference in meaning between the two answers Bill ...
-1
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1answer
65 views
The meaning of the sentence “Fortunately/Wisely, she consults her lawyer regularly.”
In Quirk's A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language Section 8.128 (page 624): it says
Fortunately/Wisely, she consults her lawyer regularly. [1]
= It is fortunate/wise that she consult(s)/...
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1answer
43 views
could have done it [closed]
I really could have done it, if you had come earlier.
I could really have done it, if you had come earlier.
I could have really done it, if you had come earlier.
I could have done it really, if you ...
1
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1answer
50 views
Does the main clause determine everything?
If the clause is If I disturbed you:
If I disturbed you, I am sorry.
If I disturbed you, I would give you money.
Both of them use the past tense of disturb in the 'if-clause'
According to the ...
1
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1answer
185 views
Subjunctive Mood with the Type 3 Conditional or “could with the perfect infinitive” expressing ability, theoretical possibility, etc. in the past
From NBC news’s ‘Breakthrough finding’ reveals why certain Covid-19 patients die:
"Before Covid, their condition was silent," Bastard said. "Most of them hadn't gotten sick before.&...
0
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1answer
87 views
subjunctive followed by indicative
I have a question about the use of the subjunctive in this sentence: If all the schools were to implement this program, which now exists only in the lower grades, then five years from now we will not ...
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1answer
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Why is “be” in “this court rules he be put on probation” an infinitive?
I was watching an old movie, The Little Rascals, and one of the lines from a kid goes:
Your Honor, may I suggest... this court rules he be put on probation.
I am not sure if be is in infinitive form ...
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2answers
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Consecutio modorum: Do “that” clauses follow an irreal subjunctive in the parent clause?
Does English have a “sequence of moods” rule? Should the blanks be filled in by was or were?
If we knew that it ___ raining, we would also know that the
street ___ wet.
That is, are the irreal ...
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vote
2answers
202 views
Is it correct to say 'I wish some magic happens'? [closed]
Another read I come across in which a guy has written, "I wish you could see that young restless orphan who has no house to live in, none to get food from, whose pshychological centre has been ...
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1answer
48 views
Is 'would have' always the third conditional?
a. No Stone Age ten-year-old would have been living on tender foods like modern potato chips, hamburgers, and pasta. Their meals would have required far more chewing than is ever demanded of a modern ...
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1answer
108 views
Is “Had you anything”, as a whole sentence, grammatically correct? [duplicate]
I saw someone said "Had you anyone specific in mind" in an old English drama. How am I supposed to understand this sentence?
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1answer
158 views
Should V.S May in subjunctive mood
I was doing a grammar exercise the other day and was confused by the key to this question.
He’s working hard for fear that he _____.
should fall behind
fell behind
may fall behind
would fallen behind
...
2
votes
1answer
111 views
Sequence of Moods (Subjunctive)
I asked a question a while ago
("If I asked, would she say it were/was time?" Past Vs. Subjunctive) about “sequence of moods” whose top answer read,
Fowler says the past simple is used in ...
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The Present (Concessive) Subjunctive (Whether/If It Be) in Past Tense Cases
Did the present, concessive subjunctive (“if it be the case”; “whether it be the case”) ever have a place in past-tense sentences?
To my understanding, the subjunctive “were” and the conditionals in ...
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1answer
342 views
Should it be “didn't think it was” or “didn't think it were”?
I know that scenarios contrary to fact should be in the subjunctive mood, but ones that we are uncertain of can use past tense. For example, "If I were you..." vs "I don't know if I was ...
2
votes
3answers
196 views
Shall & Should & the “Mandative Subjunctive”
I came across this distinction between shall and will in Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage:
That-clauses after intend or intention, desire, demand, be anxious, &c., have shall & ...
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3answers
105 views
Past Subjunctive Sentence
If we started now we would be in time (but we cannot start now)
This is an example sentence in my grammar book for past subjunctive used after If. The sentence sounds to me a suggestion rather than ...
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2answers
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Which of these sentence is correct? subjunctive or not?
“Unless he be mean, I will help him.”
“Unless he is mean, I will help him.”
Do we use the subjunctive mood? What are the verbs that require this mood? Is “unless” always followed by this mood?
(Not a ...
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3answers
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Subjunctive Mood in Past Tense, Historical, Narratives
I have a question about use of the subjunctive in past tense narratives.
The quoted passage is from Keith Thomas’s Religion and the Decline of Magic, a sort of cultural history of England in the ...
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Subjunctive Conditionals in the Past Tense
Is a sentence such as the one that follows grammatical and logical:
I was worried I would have lost a letter grade if I were to hand in the paper late.
I know the subjunctive, being a mood, can be ...
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Subjunctive and Ellipsis/Syllepsis
Reading Fowler’s Dictionary of Modern English Usage, I came across this sentence under “subjunctive mood:” “It was as if Sally were disturbed in some way and was translating this disturbance into the ...
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Are the teachers' answers to this assignment wrong?
I answered this assignment to the best of my abilities, but I feel the "official" answers are incorrect in some places. It's a multiple choice questionnaire.
I am sure that Huston Rockets ___ the ...
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1answer
50 views
Irrealis “were” following “as if”
Is the subjunctive “were” in the sentence, “He seems as if he were spell-bound,” construed as counterfactual? Does it always preclude truth, or does it only here suggest that it was highly improbable ...
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“if… were to…” form can only be used with unlikely but “possible” conditions, not for “impossible” conditions?
I am confused over the difference using "were to" and past forms in conditionals.
Was told that "were to" is only for unlikely but "possible" conditions but past form is for impossible/fantastical.
...
1
vote
1answer
120 views
Subjunctive after certain verbs
I remember a grammatical rule when I learned English that some verbs such suggest, assume, suppose, and so on, require verbs after them be in subjunctive form. For examples,
We suggest that she be ...
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0answers
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How can I describe an assumption of a past event? [closed]
Assume that Alice took an exam last week and she got its result yesterday. So she knows whether she passed the exam or not.
Now here is Bob. He does not know the result of Alice's exam yet. And Bob ...
2
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3answers
133 views
“Were to have” vs. “had” / conditionals in reported speech
Scenario:
I, Paul, arrive at my office in the morning, only to find I have been given an assignment I will definitely have to work overtime to finish today (that's the deadline) without an assistant. ...
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When to use 'would' properly in a novel
I am a little confused about the usage of 'would' in fiction-writing/translation.
So, here's a very simple example that confuses me.
"Why did you say that?" she asked. -- (my version)
"Why would ...
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37 views
Can subjunctive mood come after the adjective 'customary?'
It's from a standard test and they do not reveal their test item so I can't remember the exact sentence itself but it was like as follows.
It is customary that the winner ________ a bottle of milk in ...
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Is “was” in the subjunctive mood here, needing to be changed to “were”?
My question pertains to the following:
Mother knocked on the door because she said the bell might wake up the baby if he was asleep.
Should was be changed to were here? Thanks!
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Again, “if it wasn't” or “if it weren't”? [duplicate]
I have read a lot of information about this topic, but I still don't know why my book says that the answer is "wasn't" in the following sentence:
If the driving test ___________ so difficult, there ...
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0answers
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Why is “were” used in the highlighted relative clause?
Thank you for taking interest in this question. I have attached below the context of the clause in question to help your understanding.
A full version of the question would be: Why were, instead of ...
3
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2answers
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Does the highlighted sentence use the Subjunctive mood?
I cannot fathom why were is used in the below highlighted sentence. Why can it be used in this way? I have got suggestions that this sentence is typical of the subjunctive mood to hypothetically ...
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A question regarding “Doe behaves as if he was / is the principal.”
I got a few questions regarding this sentence: "Doe behaves as if he was / is the principal." I know that if the speaker chose "was," it means the speaker knows Doe is not the principal. Now, ...
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Uncommon subjunctive inversion in a negative clause in the pluperfect: “had not millions been swept away”
Voters in 2008 would have seen he didn’t measure up then, had not millions been swept away with emotion and wish-fulfillment. (source)
This line reads odd even jarring to me with a weird inversion ...
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1answer
48 views
Is subjunctive usage justified here?
Context: One (younger one) of the father's sons furtively watches his dad trying to do a mediocre enough back flip but he generally never ever has tried doing it, couple of seconds later his older ...
