SUBJUNCTIVE

SUBJUNCTIVE

 

The subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form in English

A.    DEFINITION

Subjunctive adalah kalimat yang menggambarkan angan-angan (imaginary situation) atau sesuatu yang berlawanan (contrary to the fact), yang dapat terjadi saat sekarang (present time), pengharapan masa depan (future time) atau penyesalan masa lampau (past time).

Atau  kalimat yang digunakan untuk mengemukan perlakuan/keinginan yang sama sekali berlawanan dengan kenyataan (mengemukakan keinginan dan lain-lain yang tidak mungkin terjadi/tercapai).

B.     Structure of the Subjunctive

The structure of the subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs except the past tense of be, the subjunctive is the same as the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to"):

be (past)	be (present)	all other verbs (past & present)
I were you were he, she, it were we were you were they were	I be you be he, she, it be we be you be they be	I work you work he, she, it work we work you work they work

 

The subjunctive does not change according to person (I, you, he etc).

C.    Use of the Subjunctive

We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

• wants to happen
• anticipates will happen
• imagines happening

Look at these examples:

• The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
• It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
• If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.

The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:

• the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest + that
• the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that

Here are some examples with the subjunctive:

• The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
• The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
• It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
• It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.

Notice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the same. It does not matter whether the sentence is past or present. Look at these examples:

Perhatikan bahwa struktur=struktur Subjunctive tidak selalu sama. Tidak masalah apakah kalimatnya dalam Past atau Present Tense. Lihat contoh berikut :

• Present: The President requests that they stop the occupation.
• Past: The President requested that they stop the occupation.

• Present: It is essential that she be present.
• Past: It was essential that she be present.

The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in American English than in English, where should + infinitive is often used:

• The manager insists that the car park should be locked at night.
• It was essential that we should vote as soon as possible.

We usually use the subjunctive were instead of "was" after if (and other words with similar meaning). Look at these sentences:

• If I were you, I would ask her.
• Suppose she were here. What would you say?

D.    SUBJUNCTIVE CLAUSE

Kalimat-kalimat Subjunctive biasanya digunakan dalam Clause, sesudah kata-kata berikut :

·         WISH

·         IF ONLY

·         WOULD RATHER

·         AS IF

·         AS THOUGH

Pada umumnya penggunaan kata-kata “WISH – IF ONLY – WOULD RATHER” adalah sama, sedangkan as if dan as though juga hampir sama. Dalam penggunaan “subjunctive”, tenses yang sering digunakan adalah :

·         Simple Past Tense/Past Continuous Tense, atau

·         Past Perfect Tense (Past sampai dengan Past Perfect)

Simple Past Tense/Past Continuous Tense dipergunakan kalau keinginan untuk dilakukan itu dalam waktu Present/Future.

Contoh :               I wish I had much more money NOW

                                I wish Karim WERE here NOW

                                If ONLY my father WERE at our school NOW

                                I would rather YOU WROTE a letter for him TODAY

                                He always talks AS IF he WERE very rich

                                He also talks as though he KNEW everything

                                She acted AS IF he hadn’t heard me

                                He looked at me AS THOUGH he didn’t know me

Subjunctive sesudah kata-kata AS IF/AS THOUGH boleh memakai tense yang bebas; antara lain : SIMPLE PAST/PAST PERFECT

Pada umumnya Past Perfect dipergunakan kalau keinginan untuk dilakukan itu, dilakukan dalam waktu Past.

Contoh lain :

·         I wish You had come to the party last night

·         If only you had introduced me to your partner yesterday

·         My mother would rather we went to bed NOW

(Simple Past dengan waktu Present)

Perhatikan :

                My mother would rather we HAD GONE to bed THEN

                (Past Perfect/waktu lampau)

Note :

                Kalau perlakuan/gerak dalam clause (subjunctive) dalam waktu present maka “tenses” yang digunakan ialah SIMPLE PAST/PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE, terutama sesudah kata-kata WISH – IF ONLY – dan WOULD RATHER.

Sedangkan

                Kalau perlakuan/gerak dalam clause (subjunctive) dalam waktu lampau/past, maka “tenses” yang digunakan adalah PAST PERFECT.

Dalam penggunaan “SIMPLE PAST” seluruh subject/pokok menggunakan “WERE” dalam pemakaian predikat dengan “TO BE” (predikat non-Verb)

               

E.     USE of “WISH”

Let's start off with the easy part. ' I wish to' can mean the same as 'I want to' but it is much, much more formal and much, much less common.

• I wish to make a complaint.
• I wish to see the manager.

You can also use 'wish' with a noun to 'offer good wishes'.

• We wish you a merry Christmas.
• I wish you all the best in your new job.

Notice that when you want to offer good wishes using a verb, you must use 'hope ' and not 'wish'.

• We wish you the best of luck.
• We hope you have the best of luck.
• I wish you a safe and pleasant journey.
• I hope you have a safe and pleasant journey.

However, the main use of 'wish' is to say that we would like things to be different from what they are, that we have regrets about the present situation.

• I wish I was rich.
• He wishes he lived in Paris.
• They wish they'd chosen a different leader.

Notice that the verb tense which follows 'I wish' is 'more in the past' than the tense corresponding to its meaning.

• I'm too fat. I wish I was thin.
• I never get invited to parties. I wish I got invited to parties.
• It's raining. I wish it wasn't raining.
• I went to see the latest Star Wars film. I wish I hadn't gone.
• I've eaten too much. I wish I hadn't eaten so much.
• I'm going to visit her later. I wish I wasn't going to visit her later.

In the case of 'will' , where 'will' means 'show willingness' we use 'would'.

• He won't help me. I wish he would help me.
• You're making too much noise. I wish you would be quiet.
• You keep interrupting me. I wish you wouldn't do that.

Where 'will' means a future event, we cannot use 'wish' and must use 'hope'.

• There's a strike tomorrow. I hope some buses will still be running
• I hope everything will be fine in your new job.

In more formal English, we use the subjunctive form 'were' and not 'was' after 'wish'.

• I wish I were taller.
• I wish it were Saturday today.
• I wish the options were a little clearer.

F. Why do we say "I were", "he were"?

We sometimes hear things like "if I were you, I would go" or "if he were here, he would tell you". Normally, the past tense of the verb "to be" is: I was, he was. But the if I were you structure does not use the past simple tense of the verb "to be". It uses the past subjunctive of the verb "to be". In the following examples, you can see that we often use the subjunctive form were instead of "was" after:

• if
• as if
• wish
• suppose

Suppose Formal (The were form is correct at all times.)	Informal (The was form is possible in informal, familiar conversation.)
If I were younger, I would go.	If I was younger, I would go.
If he weren't so mean, he would buy one for me.	If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one for me.
I wish I weren't so slow!	I wish I wasn't so slow!
I wish it were longer.	I wish it was longer.
It's not as if I were ugly.	It's not as if I was ugly.
She acts as if she were Queen.	She acts as if she was Queen.
If I were you, I should tell her.	Note: We do not normally say "if I was you", even in familiar conversation.

Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive. Here are some examples:

• Long live the King!
• God bless America!
• Heaven forbid!
• Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
• Come what may, I will never forget you.
• We are all citizens of the world, as it were

G.    EXERCISE of SUBJUNCTIVE

1. Fill in the blanks with the Simple Present Subjunctive of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
      They insisted that she _____ at once. (to come)
      They insisted that she come at once.

      The proposal that she ______ us has merit. (to meet)
      The proposal that she meet us has merit.

1. He suggested that I _________ ready by eight o'clock. (to be)
2. We request that she _________ the window. (to open)
3. They demanded that he _________ the room. (to leave)
4. I will ask that she _____________ me. (to accompany)

5. They recommended that he _________ to Bermuda. (to fly)
6. The request that we ______ ready to leave at six is a nuisance. (to be)
7. The recommendation that she ______ a holiday was carried out. (to take)
8. It is necessary that you _________ able to come with us. (to be)
9. They asked that we _________ standing. (to remain)
10. The requirement that he _________ work will be hard to meet. (to find)
11. It is important that he _________ everything he can. (to learn)
12. The demand that she __________ the report has been carried out. (to complete)

2. Complete each of the following sentences with the Past Perfect Subjunctive of the verb shown in brackets. For example:
      They wished they ___ not ____. (to come)
      They wished they had not come.
      I wish I ________ ready on time. (to be)
      I wish I had been ready on time.
      Will she wish she __________ her bicycle? (to ride)
      Will she wish she had ridden her bicycle?

1. I wish I ______ not ____________ the answers. (to lose)
2. They wished they ______ not _____________ the appointment. (to forget)
3. He will wish he __________________ us the book. (to show)
4. Will they wish we __________________ them some food? (to give)
5. We wish it _______________ yesterday. (to snow)
6. She wished she ______ not _________ the window. (to open)
7. I wished I _______________ the news. (to hear)
8. You wish you _______________ what to do. (to know)

3. Complete each of the following sentences with the Simple Past Subjunctive of the verb shown in brackets. For example:
      He wished he ____ able to do it. (to be)
      He wished he were able to do it.

      I wish I ______ with you. (to agree)
      I wish I agreed with you.

      They will wish they _____ time to come. (to have)
      They will wish they had time to come.

1. I wish it _________ possible to finish the work tonight. (to be)
2. Will he wish he ______ ready? (to be)
3. She wished she _________ how to sing. (to know)
4. We wish they ____________ to come with us. (to want)
5. You wished you ___________ better. (to feel)
6. They will wish it _________ warmer. (to be)
7. Does he wish he ____________ younger? (to be)
8. I wish I _________ the subject more interesting. (to find)

4. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Simple conjugation with would. For example:
      They wished the sun ___________. (to shine)
      They wished the sun would shine.
      Does she wish it __________? (to snow)
      Does she wish it would snow?
      You will wish the bell _________. (to ring)
      You will wish the bell would ring.

1. They wished she __________________ the arrangements. (to make)
2. He will wish you __________________ him. (to help)
3. She wishes the mail _______________. (to come)
4. We wished they _________________. (to hurry)
5. You will wish the door _________________. (to open)
6. They wish we _________________ for them. (to wait)
7. I wish you _________________ to me. (to write)
8. Will she wish you _______________ her? (to join)

5. Paying attention to the underlined adverbs indicating time, complete each of the following sentences with the correct form of the verb shown in brackets. Use the Past Perfect Subjunctive, the Simple Past Subjunctive, or the Simple conjugation with would, depending on whether the time of the action referred to in the subordinate clause is earlier than, the same as, or later than, the time of making the wish. For example:
      We wished they _________ us earlier. (to call)
      We wished they had called us earlier.

      She wishes she ____ in Rome now.
      She wishes she were in Rome now.
      I wish you __________ with us tomorrow. (to come)
      I wish you would come with us tomorrow.

1. I wish he ___________ here now. (to be)
2. I wish that you _____________ here yesterday. (to be)
3. We wish you ________________ tomorrow. (to come)
4. You will wish you ______________ earlier. (to leave)
5. They wished he _________________ with them the next day. (to come)
6. We wish you ________________ yesterday. (to arrive)
7. I wish that he ______________ us next year. (to visit)
8. She wishes that she ___________ at home now. (to be)
9. You wish that he ______________ you last week. (to help)
10. He will always wish he ____________ rich. (to be)
11. The boy wished that he ____________ the competition the next day. (to win)
12. She will wish she _____________ the arrangements earlier. (to make)
13. I wish the weather ____________ warmer now. (to be)
14. We always wished we ____________ fluent in other languages. (to be)
15. They wish he ________________ them next week. (to telephone)

6. For each of the following sentences, rewrite the subordinate clause, using the form in which the word if is omitted. For example:
                If I were in your position, I would pay close attention.
                  Were I in your position, I would pay close attention.
                  If it had been raining, we would have used our umbrellas.
                  Had it been raining, we would have used our umbrellas.
1. If he were here, he would lend us his car.
2. If I had remembered their address, I would have sent them a card.
3. If we were not waiting for a telephone call, we would go downtown.
4. If they had recognized her, they would have spoken to her.
5. If I had been intending to go shopping, I would have let you know.
6. If you had seen the movie, you would have liked it.
7. If it were not snowing, we would go out.
8. If he had been shoveling the walk, we would have seen him.

7. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Simple conjugation with would. For example:
      We __________ if we were ready. (to come)
      We would come if we were ready.

      _____ you _____ more if you had time? (to travel)
      Would you travel more if you had time?

      If they saw us, they _____ not _________ us. (to recognize)
      If they saw us, they would not recognize us.

      _____ you not ____ glad if you were rich? (to be)
      Would you not be glad if you were rich?

1. If we were hitchhiking, ________ you ________ to pick us up? (to stop)
2. If we waited for him, we ________ not ________ on time. (to be)
3. ________ he ________ us know if we made a mistake? (to let)
4. I ________ not _______ to have a party if you were not there. (to want)
5. If you knew more about her, you ________________ your opinion. (to change)
6. ________ you ________ pizza if you did not like it? (to order)
7. ________ they not ________ to come if we asked them? (to agree)
8. We ________ not _________ a car unless we were insured. (to drive)

8. Complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the Perfect conjugation with would. For example:
      If it had rained, I ________________ at home. (to stay)
      If it had rained, I would have stayed at home.

      _____ you _________ with us if we had asked you? (to come)
      Would you have come with us if we had asked you?  
      If he had hurried, he _____ not ___________ the bus. (to miss)
      If he had hurried, he would not have missed the bus.
      _____ she not __________ if she had seen us? (to wave)
      Would she not have waved if she had seen us?

1. If he had arrived late, ________ we ______________ without him? (to begin)
2. If they had felt thirsty, ________ they not _____________ the lemonade? (to drink)
3. If we had been here, we _______ not ______________ the fireworks. (to miss)
4. If his office had called, _______ he not _______________ to work? (to return)
5. She _______ not _______________ early if she had not had a good reason. (to leave)
6. If they had searched more carefully, they _____________________ the watch sooner. (to find)
7. If you had visited Rome, _______ you ____________ to the opera? (to go)
8. She ______________________ down if she had been tired. (to lie)

9. The following statements contain false or improbable conditions. Paying attention to the underlined adverbs indicating time, complete the following sentences, using the indicated verbs in the appropriate conjugations with would. use the Simple conjugation for actions pertaining to the present or the future, and use the Perfect conjugation for actions pertaining to the past. For example:
      If you came with us now, you _________ everything. (to see)
      If you came with us now, you would see everything.

      _____ he __________ us yesterday if we had slept in? (to wake)
      Would he have woken us yesterday if we had slept in?

1. If he were here now he _______ not ___________ to help us. (to hesitate)
2. I ___________________ the book last week if I had known you wanted it. (to finish)
3. ______ you ______________ to him last night if you had seen him? (to speak)
4. If they were old enough, they __________________ the contest next week. (to enter)
5. ______ she not ____________ a vacation now if she had more time? (to take)
6. If he had sent a message, we ______________________ it two days ago. (to receive)
7. I ____________________ it if you came with me now. (to appreciate)
8. ______ she not ________ grateful if we offered to help her tomorrow? (to be)
9. ______ he _____________ yesterday if he had entered the race? (to win)
10. _______ they not __________________ more books last month if they had noticed the stock was low? (to order)
11. _______ she not ___________ us now if she knew where we lived? (to visit)
12. _______ you _________________ cucumbers yesterday if they had been on sale? (to buy)

10. For each of the following sentences, complete the subordinate clause with the Simple Past Subjunctive of the verb shown in brackets. For example:
      If he ____ in town, he would call us. (to be)
      If he were in town, he would call us.

      Would you go to the party if you ________ an invitation? (to receive)
      Would you go to the party if you received an invitation?

      If he ___ not ____ his work, he would find another job. (to like)
      If he did not like his work, he would find another job.

1. If he ________ rich, he would travel. (to be)
2. _________ I not anxious to meet him, I would stay at home. (to be)
3. He would have more free time if he ______ not _________ so hard. (to work)
4. If I _________ a car, I would visit Cape Breton. (to have)
5. We would take the bus if it _________ to snow. (to begin)
6. If you _________ him, you would surely recognize him. (to see)
7. I would not confide in him if I _______ not _________ him. (to trust)
8. If we _______ not _________ time, we would let you know. (to have)
9. If he _____________ an expedition, I would certainly join it. (to organize)
10. I would not worry about it if I _________ you. (to be)

11. For each of the following sentences, complete the subordinate clause with the Past Perfect Subjunctive of the verb shown in brackets. For example:
      If I __________ him to do it, he would have obeyed me. (to order)
      If I had ordered him to do it, he would have obeyed me.

      Had it not ______ yesterday, we would have raked the leaves. (to snow)
      Had it not snowed yesterday, we would have raked the leaves.

1. I would not have got lost if I ______________ the map. (to study)
2. _______ he _________ at home, we would have visited him. (to be)
3. We would have invited him if we ________________ he would come. (to think)
4. He would have applied for the job if he _______________ the advertisement. (to see)
5. We would not have ordered tea, ______ we __________ how late it was. (to know)
6. ______ it not __________, they would have held the party in the park. (to rain)
7. We would have agreed with you if we _________________ what you meant. (to understand)
8. If you _____________ salt on the steps, they would not have been so slippery. (to put)
9. ______ he ___________ to us, we would have known when to expect him. (to write)
10. If he ________________ to take the course, he would have had to work hard. (to choose)

12. The following statements contain false or improbable conditions. Paying attention to the underlined adverbs indicating time, complete the subordinate clauses with the correct forms of the verbs shown in brackets. Use the Simple Past Subjunctive for actions pertaining to the present or the future, and use the Past Perfect Subjunctive for actions pertaining to the past. For example:
      If she ____ here now, she would be admiring the rose bushes. (to be)
      If she were here now, she would be admiring the rose bushes.

      ___ he ______ here last week, we would have met him. (to stay)
      Had he stayed here last week, we would have met him.

1. If he _________ here now, we would ask his opinion. (to be)
2. We would have forgotten our tickets last night, if she ____not ________ us. (to remind)
3. _____ I ________ earlier, I would have arrived on time yesterday. (to leave)
4. Would you visit Spain next summer, if you _________ enough money? (to have)
5. If it _________________ yesterday, we would not need to water the lawn. (to rain)
6. If he _________ you last Wednesday, he would have asked your advice. (to see)
7. If they __________ to leave now, they would need special permission. (to want)
8. _____ they _________ of the concert yesterday, they would have arranged to go. (to know)
9. Would you not have stayed longer last week, if you ___________ able to? (to be)
10. If they ____________ the letter tomorrow, they would receive an answer in two weeks. (to write)
11. If he _____________ the book now, he would enjoy it. (to read)
12. If we _____________ more attention yesterday, we would know what time to be there. (to pay)

13. Change each of the following sentences from a statement containing a probable condition to a statement containing a false or improbable condition. Following the model of the examples, change the underlined verb in the subordinate clause from the Simple Present Indicative to the Simple Past Subjunctive; and change the underlined verb in the main clause from the Simple Future to the Simple conjugation with would. For example:

      If she is angry, she will scold us.
      If she were angry, she would scold us.

      If he wins, we will congratulate him.
      If he won, we would congratulate him.

      They will join us, if we send them a message.
      They would join us, if we sent them a message.

1. If they want to see you, they will come to the party.
2. If he is curious, he will ask what we are doing.
3. She will help us, if she has time.
4. If they work hard, they will succeed.
5. If I find the culprits, I will teach them a lesson.
6. If she recognizes us, she will wave.
7. They will treat you well, if you are honest with them.
8. If she likes you, she will tell you.
9. If he is ready, we will invite him to come.
10. If they see me, they will want to speak to me.

14. Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the Imperative form of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
      ____ the door. (to open)
      Open the door.

      Don't ______ to come. (to forget)
      Don't forget to come.

1. Don't __________ out late. (to stay)
2. Please _________ ready on time. (to be)
3. Don't ___________ about that. (to worry)
4. _________ your own business! (to mind)
5. _________ careful not to trip. (to be)
6. Do not ____________ everything you hear. (to believe)
7. Always ___________ both ways before crossing the street. (to look)
8. You __________ here while I go into the store. (to wait)
9. __________ me! (to excuse)
10. _________ me a postcard if you have time. (to send)

Answers to Exercise 1:
1. be 2. open 3. leave 4. accompany 5. fly 6. be 7. take 8. be 9. remain 10. find 11. learn 12. complete

Answers to Exercise 2:
1. had, lost 2. had, forgotten 3. had shown 4. had given 5. had snowed 6. had, opened 7. had heard 8. had known

Answers to Exercise 3:
1. were 2. were 3. knew 4. wanted 5. felt 6. were 7. were 8. found

Answers to Exercise 4:
1. would make 2. would help 3. would come 4. would hurry 5. would open 6. would wait 7. would write 8. would join

Answers to Exercise 5:
1. were 2. had been 3. would come 4. had left 5. would come 6. had arrived 7. would visit 8. were 9. had helped 10. were 11. would win 12. had made 13. were 14. were 15. would telephone

Answers to Exercise 6:
1. Were he here, he would lend us his car. 2. Had I remembered their address, I would have sent them a card. 3. Were we not waiting for a telephone call, we would go downtown. 4. Had they recognized her, they would have spoken to her. 5. Had I been intending to go shopping, I would have let you know. 6. Had you seen the movie, you would have liked it. 7. Were it not snowing, we would go out. 8. Had he been shoveling the walk, we would have seen him.

Answers to Exercise 7:
1. would, stop 2. would, be 3. Would, let 4. would, want 5. would change 6. Would, order 7. Would, agree 8. would, drive

Answers to Exercise 8:
1. would, have begun 2. would, have drunk 3. would, have missed 4. would, have returned 5. would, have left 6. would have found 7. would, have gone 8. would have lain

Answers to Exercise 9:
1. would, hesitate 2. would have finished 3. Would, have spoken 4. would enter 5. Would, take 6. would have received 7. would appreciate 8. Would, be 9. Would, have won 10. Would, have ordered 11. Would, visit 12. Would, have bought

Answers to Exercise 10:
1. were 2. Were 3. did, work 4. had 5. began 6. saw 7. did, trust 8. did, have 9. organized 10. were

Answers to Exercise 11:
1. had studied 2. Had, been 3. had thought 4. had seen 5. had, known 6. Had, rained 7. had understood 8. had put 9. Had, written 10. had chosen

Answers to Exercise 12:
1. were 2. had, reminded 3. Had, left 4. had 5. had rained 6. had seen 7. wanted 8. Had, known 9. had been 10. wrote 11. read 12. had paid

Answers to Exercise 13:
1. If they wanted to see you, they would come to the party. 2. If he were curious, he would ask what we are doing. 3. She would help us, if she had time. 4. If they worked hard, they would succeed. 5. If I found the culprits, I would teach them a lesson. 6. If she recognized us, she would wave. 7. They would treat you well, if you were honest with them. 8. If she liked you, she would tell you. 9. If he were ready, we would invite him to come. 10. If they saw me, they would want to speak to me.

Answers to Exercise 14:
1. stay 2. be 3. worry 4. Mind 5. Be 6. believe 7. look 8. wait 9. Excuse 10. Send

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