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gwynBy request, this one is about the subjunctive, which I know sounds like a medical condition. In some ways, maybe it ought to be, just because its use is lessening all the time, and even people who use it often can use it incorrectly, because we’re not taught this much these days (I do all the time). Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the constructions, and whenever I’ve seen people make really good cases for ignoring the formal constructions that use it, I nod my head silently in agreement.
There are three moods in English (and too bad there are no mood icons for them!). The first is the indicative, which is the one we use most commonly. The second is the imperative, which is used for orders or advice. And the third is the subjunctive, which is used in certain contexts to express wishes, requests, or conditions that are contrary to the facts. Subjunctive is the only one that really seems to trip people up.
In the subjunctive mood, present-tense verbs don’t change their form to indicate the number and person of the subject (see the old post about this here). What you would do instead is to use the main base form of that verb (be, eat, drive…) with all the subjects. Tricky and let’s face it, WTF-inspiring.
It’s important that you be [not are] prepared for snow when you work in the Yukon.
We asked that Hagrid eat [not eats, no matter how weird and stilted that may sound] more quietly.
If I were you [not was], I’d be double-clutching, not granny-shifting
That last one is important because in subjunctive mood, there’s really only one past-tense form of be, and that’s were (never was). However, many people would not get that right in dialogue, nor would they, if you were writing a first-person narrative in fiction, think that way. So, like correct grammar at any time, you may not actually want to get that right if your character would be the type to say “If I was you…” (not that this means I’m giving you a license to use would of).
How do you know when to use it? It’s really only a few contexts.
1) In contrary-to-fact clauses beginning with If: When a subordinate clause beginning with the word “if” expresses a condition contrary to the facts, use subjunctive mood:
If Iwas were a vampire, I would lay waste to this whole stupid high school.
We would get in a lot less trouble on these planets if Danielwas were less curious.
The verbs here express conditions that don’t exist – the speaker isn’t a vampire, and Daniel isn’t going to stop being curious about every planet he visits. The tricky part here, however, is that you wouldn’t use the subjunctive in “if clauses” that express conditions that exist, or might exist. This is what I think frustrates the living shit out of people, especially when they’re writing fiction, because so many things in fiction are more elastic and could fall into either camp (and technically, that first speaker could become a vampire if they stay in Sunnydale long enough, so…). All I can offer is that you have to feel your way around this. An example of something that might happen: “If Buffy wins the throwdown with the First, the show will be over.”
2) In contrary-to-fact clauses expressing a wish. (Look, it’s the wishverse!) In formal English, the subjunctive is used for clauses expressing a wish or desire, but in informal speech, the indicative is more common. This is that fictional thing I mentioned above; if your character is more of an informal type, or you’re doing this in dialog, chances are you’ll use the informal speech. But if you were writing all proper-like, obviously you’d go for the formal.
Formal: I wish that Rupert Giles were my high-school librarian.
Informal: I wish that Rupert Giles was my high-school librarian.
3) In “that” clauses following verbs like ask, insist, recommend, request, and suggest.. Since requests aren’t considered a reality yet, you should use the subjunctive mood for these.
Dr. House insists that his interns alwaysare be on time.
We suggest that Bodiechecks check his weapon at the door.
4) Certain set expressions that you hear all the time. Because the subjunctive was more commonly used in English in ye olden tymes, there are a lot of set expressions it remains in, even though we might not say things quite that way anymore: Be that as it may, as it were, come rain or shine, far be it from me, blah blah. If you hear things that sound stilted but almost everyone seems to say or know, that’s why.
It really is something that have to feel your way around, get used to. Getting it wrong isn't likely to result in serious problems, either, unless you're doing your doctoral dissertation or something, or you're facing a firing squad of grammarians. More than anything, it's one of the subtleties of our peculiar language that gives people headaches, but is still a small cornerstone in the foundation of good writing.
There are three moods in English (and too bad there are no mood icons for them!). The first is the indicative, which is the one we use most commonly. The second is the imperative, which is used for orders or advice. And the third is the subjunctive, which is used in certain contexts to express wishes, requests, or conditions that are contrary to the facts. Subjunctive is the only one that really seems to trip people up.
In the subjunctive mood, present-tense verbs don’t change their form to indicate the number and person of the subject (see the old post about this here). What you would do instead is to use the main base form of that verb (be, eat, drive…) with all the subjects. Tricky and let’s face it, WTF-inspiring.
It’s important that you be [not are] prepared for snow when you work in the Yukon.
We asked that Hagrid eat [not eats, no matter how weird and stilted that may sound] more quietly.
If I were you [not was], I’d be double-clutching, not granny-shifting
That last one is important because in subjunctive mood, there’s really only one past-tense form of be, and that’s were (never was). However, many people would not get that right in dialogue, nor would they, if you were writing a first-person narrative in fiction, think that way. So, like correct grammar at any time, you may not actually want to get that right if your character would be the type to say “If I was you…” (not that this means I’m giving you a license to use would of).
How do you know when to use it? It’s really only a few contexts.
1) In contrary-to-fact clauses beginning with If: When a subordinate clause beginning with the word “if” expresses a condition contrary to the facts, use subjunctive mood:
If I
We would get in a lot less trouble on these planets if Daniel
The verbs here express conditions that don’t exist – the speaker isn’t a vampire, and Daniel isn’t going to stop being curious about every planet he visits. The tricky part here, however, is that you wouldn’t use the subjunctive in “if clauses” that express conditions that exist, or might exist. This is what I think frustrates the living shit out of people, especially when they’re writing fiction, because so many things in fiction are more elastic and could fall into either camp (and technically, that first speaker could become a vampire if they stay in Sunnydale long enough, so…). All I can offer is that you have to feel your way around this. An example of something that might happen: “If Buffy wins the throwdown with the First, the show will be over.”
2) In contrary-to-fact clauses expressing a wish. (Look, it’s the wishverse!) In formal English, the subjunctive is used for clauses expressing a wish or desire, but in informal speech, the indicative is more common. This is that fictional thing I mentioned above; if your character is more of an informal type, or you’re doing this in dialog, chances are you’ll use the informal speech. But if you were writing all proper-like, obviously you’d go for the formal.
Formal: I wish that Rupert Giles were my high-school librarian.
Informal: I wish that Rupert Giles was my high-school librarian.
3) In “that” clauses following verbs like ask, insist, recommend, request, and suggest.. Since requests aren’t considered a reality yet, you should use the subjunctive mood for these.
Dr. House insists that his interns always
We suggest that Bodie
4) Certain set expressions that you hear all the time. Because the subjunctive was more commonly used in English in ye olden tymes, there are a lot of set expressions it remains in, even though we might not say things quite that way anymore: Be that as it may, as it were, come rain or shine, far be it from me, blah blah. If you hear things that sound stilted but almost everyone seems to say or know, that’s why.
It really is something that have to feel your way around, get used to. Getting it wrong isn't likely to result in serious problems, either, unless you're doing your doctoral dissertation or something, or you're facing a firing squad of grammarians. More than anything, it's one of the subtleties of our peculiar language that gives people headaches, but is still a small cornerstone in the foundation of good writing.
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no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 06:18 pm (UTC)Tricky and let’s face it, WTF-inspiring.
Definitely. I know subjunctives can be a huge problem for me. Thanks for the primer.
if i was a rich girl....
Date: 2005-02-04 06:24 pm (UTC)part of me thinks, however, that the subjunctive will have died out within another generation or so...i used to get frustrated about the "what if god was one of us" but always had fiddler on the roof to comfort me. except, now we have gwen's version. As much as i love the song, shenot only changed gender but also mood... how am i ever gonna teach my kids "if i were," if they hear it wrong on the radio every day???
no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 06:49 pm (UTC)This is the one that kills me. It's easy at the extremes - "If I were short I'd wear high heels" - I'm not short, never will be, so subjunctive it is. But: "If I was cold, I'd put on a jacket." I'm *not* cold, but it's February, so I *could* be cold, so no subjunctive ... right? What about the fact that the heat is on, so I'm unlikely to get cold right now - but if I went outside I'd be cold (and there we go: "If I were outside, I'd be cold" - but all I have to do to go outside is open the door, so should it be "If I was outside"?).
Whenever I think about this I end up tangled up in degrees of probability - how likely is it that I might be a rich man? If it was 1998 and I had lots of internet investments, could I have said "If I was a rich (wo)man"? Argh!
Anyway, this was *extremely* helpful - I loved seeing it all down in one place, and you explained it so well. Thanks!
synchronicity!
Date: 2005-02-04 07:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 08:36 pm (UTC)Watching far too many British period-dramas on PBS. Those things are chock full of subjunctive!
Also, this--We asked that Hagrid eat [not eats, no matter how weird and stilted that may sound] more quietly.--amuses me greatly, on account of my dog being named Hagrid and the loudness with which he eats.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-07 01:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-07 06:27 pm (UTC)You really can't write a proper, upright (and usually prissy) personage without knowing how to write the subjunctive correctly.
Very true. And now that I think about it, the etiquette book I have from 1892 (titled The Correct Thing in Good Society, no less) has subjunctive all over the place as well...Interesting connection.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 10:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-04 10:36 pm (UTC)Question...
Date: 2005-02-05 01:36 am (UTC)In Italian, there is a case that I don't see covered up there for English. I'm wondering if it just doesn't apply in English. In Italian, you use the subjunctive in "that" clauses wherein you express an opinion or belief:
I believe that God is a beautiful woman.
Credo che Dio *sia* una bella donna.
Not applicable to us?
And, thanks again! Case 1 makes my struggle with what verb to use with "if" in Italian so much easier.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-05 10:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-06 12:39 am (UTC)here via metafandom
Date: 2005-02-06 02:17 am (UTC)here via metafandom...
Date: 2005-02-06 04:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-06 04:55 am (UTC)Great post, though.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-07 05:15 am (UTC)Adding to Memories and friending you, if that's OK.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-10 02:47 am (UTC)