It is essential that everyone know this. The English Subjunctive
In this post we’ll look at the English subjunctive. If you speak Romance (or many other) languages, you’re probably familiar with the term subjunctive. The subjunctive in English is used in a few limited contexts, but it’s an important form that you’ll need to be familiar with, especially in more formal or written language. The English subjunctive is not limited to formal or written language; it’s a part of the spoken language, at least in a few important circumstances.
The Form of the English Subjunctive
The form of the English subjunctive is simple. It’s just the verb infinitive (to be, to do, to go, to take) minus the to: be, do, go, take. The negative subjunctive just adds not: not be, not do, not go, not take. There are no tenses in the subjunctive, simply these two forms.
The English Subjunctive after Verbs of Requesting, Suggesting, Preferring, or Demanding
The subjunctive is used in that clauses after certain verbs that express a request, a suggestion, a preference, or a demand. Some common examples are: advise, ask, demand, insist, order, propose, recommend, request, require, suggest, urge, and the phrases had better or would rather.
- I advise that you say nothing.
- My boss demands that everyone be on time.
- We ask that he be set free.
- The court ordered that the vote be recounted.
- Sam’s teacher urged that he prepare himself thoroughly.
- I suggested that she take the train instead of a taxi.
- We would rather that everyone be happy.
- I propose that everyone go on break.
- Everyone had better finish the project on time!
Negative Subjunctive
Remember that the negative subjunctive simply uses not before the verb.
- I insist that you not work late tonight.
- We require that our employees not be late.
- Mary’s parents would rather that she not drive at night.
- You had better not get to work late again!
Real vs. Unreal Situations
All of these contexts refer to situations that are not (necessarily) real. They often refer to a situation that a person wishes were true, but may not be. For example, if your boss requires that everyone be on time for work, that doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone is on time. The subjunctive that clause describes this possibly-unreal, wished-for situation.
You can see this contrast in the following pair.
- I insist that John is at his desk.
- I insist that John be at his desk.
In (1), the regular indicative verb form is used. This is not the subjunctive, it’s a statement of fact or actual reality. This I insist means the same thing as I swear or I promise. You would say it in response to someone who argues that John is somewhere other than at his desk. But you’ve just seen John there, or you’re looking at him sitting at his desk, so you forcefully insist that he is, in fact, there.
In (2), the subjunctive is used. This I insist means something more like I require or I demand. You’re not sure where John is, but you’re saying that he needs to be at his desk, or you and he will have a problem.
A. Practice 1
Restate the following pairs of sentences as one, using a verb followed by the subjunctive. The answers are at the end of the post.
- I need to submit two letters of recommendation. The school require it.
The school requires that… - The boss says that everyone must arrive on time. She insists on it.
The boss insists that… - Paul’s parents really want him to study harder. They urge it.
Paul’s parents urge that… - She talks about her colleagues. She should stop doing that.
She had better… - We want them to set the prisoner free. We demand it.
We demand that… - I would prefer it if everyone were happy and successful.
I would rather that…
The English Subjunctive after Adjectives of Requesting, Suggesting, Preferring, or Demanding
The subjunctive is also used after a similar set of adjectives or nouns of requesting, suggesting, preferring or demanding. The typical construction is: it is ADJECTIVE that + subjunctive.
Some common examples of adjectives followed by the subjunctive are: critical, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary, preferable, preferred, urgent, vital.
- It is critical that he take this problem seriously.
- It’s essential that we be in agreement.
- It’s important that everyone make an effort.
- My boss thinks it’s preferrable that everyone work from home one day a week.
- She told me it was vital that she have more help with the project.
Just as with verbs, you can also use the indicative after these adjectives if you’re talking about an actual, real situation rather than a request, suggestion, preference, wish, and so on.
- It’s important that he spends so much time with his children.
=He does actually spend a lot of time with his children, and that is important. - It’s important that he spend more time with his children.
=He doesn’t spend enough time with his children, and he should spend more.
B. Practice 2
Complete the sentences with the correct verb form. Not all of them take the subjunctive. The answers are at the end of the post.
- It’s good that he (spends/spend) time with his family.
- It’s crucial that he (spends/spend) more time with his family.
- It’s preferable that everyone (takes/take) their jobs seriously.
- It’s a shame that not everyone (takes/take) their jobs seriously.
- It’s critical that we (don’t lose/not lose) sight of our goals.
- It’s essential that everyone (drinks/drink) enough water.
- I don’t think that everyone (drinks/drink) enough water.
- It’s a shame that the weather (is/be) so bad.
The English Subjunctive after Nouns of Requesting, Suggesting, Preferring, or Demanding
Many nouns related to these verbs or adjectives are also followed by the subjunctive, for example: advice, desire, (an) imperative, insistence, necessity, need, order, preference, proposal, recommendation, request, requirement, suggestion.
The typical construction is: it is a NOUN that + subjunctive.
- Your desire that everything be perfect is not realistic.
- His insistence that the employee stay late every night is not fair.
- There is a requirement that each student write a research paper.
- The judge’s order that the jury not discuss the case with anyone else should not be ignored.
- My suggestion that we be patient and not jump to conclusions was not accepted.
C. Practice 3
Combine the pairs of sentences into one sentence using the subjunctive. The answers are at the end of the post.
- They don’t accept my desire. I want everything to be done carefully.
They don’t accept my desire that… - My boss gave everyone an order. Everyone has to stay late to finish.
My boss gave an order that… - The building has a requirement. All tenants must sort their recyclables.
The building has a requirement that… - My colleagues liked my suggestion. I said that everyone should eat lunch together.
My colleagues liked my suggestion that… - Peter ignored my advice. I told him not to say anything.
Peter ignored my advice that…
Alternatives to the Subjunctive in English
While the subjunctive is used in everyday speech, it is not very common. Many English speakers use alternative constructions involving infinitives or for (someone) phrases. Here are a few examples.
- I advise that you say nothing.
I advise you to say nothing. - We ask that he be set free.
We ask for him to be set free. - It is critical that he take this problem seriously.
It is critical for him to take this problem serious. - Your desire that everything be perfect is not realistic.
Your desire for everything to be perfect is not realistic. - The judge’s order that the jury not discuss the case with anyone else should not be ignored.
The judge’s order to the jury to not discuss the case with anyone should not be ignored. - My suggestion that we be patient and not jump to conclusions was not accepted.
My suggestion for us to be patient and not (to) jump to conclusions was not accepted.
The English Subjunctive After Certain Conjunctions
There are two conjunctions in English that are followed by that clauses in the subjunctive. Lest is an archaic conjunction meaning out of fear that something may happen. You’ll find it in older writing, but you may also hear it in speech as a kind of ironic or self-consciously elevated style.
- He spoke quietly lest he disturb his colleagues.
(He spoke quietly out of fear that he might disturb his colleagues.) - I begged them to change the topic lest there be an argument.
(I begged them to change the topic in order to avoid an argument.)
So that is a much more common conjunction, meaning in order for something to happen. In formal speech, it’s followed by the subjunctive, but it’s much more common in current speech to use a conditional with could or would.
- I left early so that I not be late.
(I left early so that I wouldn’t be late.) - They locked the door so that no one intrude.
(They locked the door so that no one would intrude.)
The English Subjunctive in Fixed Expressions
The subjunctive is used in a few common fixed expressions.
- God save the queen! Long live the king!
(May God save the queen. May the king live a long life.) - God forbid! Heaven forfend!
These are both used in response to possible situations that you want to avoid.
God forbid he ever repeat that secret!
You think we’ll lose the account? Heaven forfend! - So be it.
This expression is used to mean that you suggest a situation, even if it’s not ideal.
If you don’t think we can make our marriage work anymore, so be it. - Be that as it may.
This expression is used when you want to move from a topic without resolving it.
We don’t agree on this issue. Be that as it may, we should still try to respect each other.
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Answers
A. Practice 1
- The school requires that I submit two letters of recommendation.
- The boss insists that everyone arrive on time.
- Paul’s parents urge that he study harder.
- She had better not talk about her colleagues. She had better stop talking about her colleagues.
- We demand that they set the prisoner free. We demand that the prisoner be set free.
- I would rather that everyone be happy and successful.
B. Practice 2
- It’s good that he spends time with his family.
- It’s crucial that he spend more time with his family.
- It’s preferable that everyone take their jobs seriously.
- It’s a shame that not everyone takes their jobs seriously.
- It’s critical that we not lose sight of our goals.
- It’s essential that everyone drink enough water.
- I don’t think that everyone drinks enough water.
- It’s a shame that the weather is so bad.
C. Practice 3
- They don’t accept my desire that everything be done carefully.
- My boss gave an order that everyone stay late to finish.
- The building has a requirement that all tenants sort their recyclables.
- My colleagues liked my suggestion that everyone eat lunch together.
- Peter ignored my advice that he not say anything / that he say nothing.
