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Subjunctive Mode

Subjunctive Mode
Are you old enough to remember the ad jingle, “I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener…”? Did you ever wonder about I were? This is an example of the Subjunctive Mode, which refers to the expression of a hypothetical, wishful, or imaginary thought. Sentences using wish and if usually indicate Subjunctive Mode and require using were as the to be verb form.

Examples:
If I were rich, I’d sail around the world.
He wishes he were in a position to give his employees raises.

When using Subjunctive Mode with verbs besides were, use the past tense or past perfect tense.

Examples:
I wish I had studied more for the test.
It would be better if you had brought the ice cream in a cooler.

Quiz

Correct the verbs in the following sentences as needed.

1. If I was stronger, I would have won that race.
2. I wish he was able to come to the party earlier.
3. If she were truly your friend, she wouldn’t talk behind your back.
4. I wish I practiced piano when I was younger.
5. If she went to the store on Saturday, she would have received a discount.

Quiz Answers

1. If I were stronger, I would have won that race.
2. I wish he were able to come to the party earlier.
3. If she were truly your friend, wouldn’t talk behind your back. (Correct)
4. I wish I had practiced piano when I was younger.
5. If she had gone to the store on Saturday, she would have received a discount.

Posted on Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 at 3:24 am

14 Comments

14 Responses to “Subjunctive Mode”

  1. Jane says:
    April 15, 2008 at 1:27 am

    Glad you enjoyed them, Kim.

    Reply
  2. Kim says:
    April 15, 2008 at 12:58 am

    The church bulletin bloopers cracked me up. Too funny!

    Reply
  3. Leonilo D. Ayos says:
    October 4, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    It is so nice to learn from your lessons.

    Reply
  4. Carmen says:
    October 30, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    This part of grammar was excelent, It’s just I wanted to know. But It rested me a little doubt:. Subjunctive with verb to be, the first person (I) and third person (he/she) is always WERE? Example: I wish I were so intelligent like you. Or He wishes he were the best student in his class this year. Are these sentences ok? please I wish you corrected my mistakes.
    Thanks a lot.
    I neither know if the website is correct. Excuse me.
    Regards from….Carnen
    e- mail lovelyipaz@live.cl

    Reply
  5. Michael says:
    January 26, 2011 at 10:27 am

    Here’s something for which I require assurance. I am constantly running afoul of the spelling and grammar checker in Microsoft Word. Most recently, I typed this sentence [truncated here]: “… so that she might become pregnant, in keeping with his desire that she bear his child.” Microsoft is not happy with my choice of ‘bear’ and suggests ‘bears.’ I know damned well that Microsoft is wrong! My question is this: is it the subjunctive nature of the sentence which would make ‘bear’ correct, or is there some other grammatical rule operating here?

    Reply
    • Jane says:
      April 1, 2011 at 2:19 pm

      You are correct about the subjunctive nature of the sentence. In the case of your sentence, the use of “his desire” can cause the verb “bear” to have a subjunctive mood because a wish is being expressed. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs. The subjective mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in formal speech and writing.

      Reply
  6. Kenneth Howe Jones, MArch says:
    April 10, 2011 at 9:15 am

    What I’d like to know is the reasoning behind the use of the plural “I were” instead of the singular “I was”? Seems very arbitrary and even a bit pompous doesn’t it? Is it perhaps from a British preference (or archaic-historic usage)? Or perhaps to just keep the SM rule as simple as possible? As a student of semantics and linguistics over the last fifty years or so, the logic behind this choice has always managed to elude me. It still strikes me as just another of those committee decisions without any real basis. Could you perhaps shed some light on the matter? Thoughts?
    Thanks. KHJ

    Reply
  7. George Nieves says:
    December 27, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    Your lessons are great and so easy to follow

    Reply
  8. Silvia German says:
    January 9, 2012 at 12:35 pm

    Dear Jane,
    All the examples above of the subjunctive mode refer to a person or persons. Does usage of “were” in a hypothetical sentence also apply to objects and situations?
    Example:
    If only one option were available which would you prefer?
    Or should it be: “If only one option was available”
    Thanks for your help
    Silvia

    Reply
    • Jane says:
      January 10, 2012 at 4:11 pm

      Yes, the usage of “were” does apply to an object as well as a person.
      Example: If the firecracker were to explode, it would hurt my ears.

      If only one option were available, which would you prefer?

      Reply
  9. Jane says:
    October 7, 2009 at 9:40 pm

    Thank you so much for your comments.

    Reply

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