Subjunctive
noun
A verb form often used to express desires, unreal situations, or doubts.
In the phrase 'if I were a millionaire', 'were' is in the subjunctive.
Often appears as...
- subjunctive mood
- present subjunctive
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Relating to the subjunctive verb form.
In some languages, subjunctive forms of verbs are very different from the indicative forms.
Often appears as...
- subjunctive expression
- subjunctive usage
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A verb form often used to express desires, unreal situations, or doubts.
In the phrase 'if I were a millionaire', 'were' is in the subjunctive.
Often appears as...
- subjunctive mood
- present subjunctive
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Relating to the subjunctive verb form.
In some languages, subjunctive forms of verbs are very different from the indicative forms.
Often appears as...
- subjunctive expression
- subjunctive usage
Usage tips
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Language Precision
Use the subjunctive to be precise about hypotheticals, desires, or doubts, not for facts.
It's crucial that he arrive on time.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuance
Subjunctive is less common in everyday English but often appears in formal writing.
She proposed that the club be disbanded.
Pro Tip 3/3Expressing Wishes
The subjunctive conveys wishes or hypotheticals contrary to reality.
I wish that I were taller.
Pro Tip 1/3Language Precision
Use the subjunctive to be precise about hypotheticals, desires, or doubts, not for facts.
It's crucial that he arrive on time.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuance
Subjunctive is less common in everyday English but often appears in formal writing.
She proposed that the club be disbanded.
Pro Tip 3/3Expressing Wishes
The subjunctive conveys wishes or hypotheticals contrary to reality.
I wish that I were taller.
Pro Tip 1/3Language Precision
Use the subjunctive to be precise about hypotheticals, desires, or doubts, not for facts.
It's crucial that he arrive on time.
Pro Tip 2/3Cultural Nuance
Subjunctive is less common in everyday English but often appears in formal writing.
She proposed that the club be disbanded.
Pro Tip 3/3Expressing Wishes
The subjunctive conveys wishes or hypotheticals contrary to reality.
I wish that I were taller.
Compare with
conditionalcontingentdependenthypotheticalnotionalpresumptivespeculatetentative
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Video examples
Learning a new language...
means that when it comes to grammar it's fine I've been operating in foreign languages for 40 years or so I know what the subjunctive mood of a verb is and I know when it might be needed but
Video examples
Learning a new language...
means that when it comes to grammar it's fine I've been operating in foreign languages for 40 years or so I know what the subjunctive mood of a verb is and I know when it might be needed but
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Donna Leon
American Author
A story begins and it always passes from the subjunctive to the declarative. And Italians don't seem to care about making a fine distinction between that which is speculation and that which is fact.
Quote examples
Donna Leon
American Author
A story begins and it always passes from the subjunctive to the declarative. And Italians don't seem to care about making a fine distinction between that which is speculation and that which is fact.
Example 1 of 1
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