subjunctive

American  

[suhb-juhngk-tiv] / səbˈdʒʌŋk tɪv /

adjective

1. (in English and certain other languages) noting or pertaining to a mood or mode of the verb that may be used for subjective, doubtful, hypothetical, or grammatically subordinate statements or questions, as the mood of be in if this be treason.

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noun

subjunctives plural

1. the subjunctive mood or mode.

2. a verb in the subjunctive mood or form.

subjunctive British  

/ səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv /

adjective

1. grammar denoting a mood of verbs used when the content of the clause is being doubted, supposed, feared true, etc, rather than being asserted. The rules for its use and the range of meanings it may possess vary considerably from language to language. In the following sentence, were is in the subjunctive Compare indicative

   I'd think very seriously about that if I were you

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noun

1. grammar

   1. the subjunctive mood

   2. a verb in this mood

subjunctive Cultural  

1. A grammatical form of verbs implying hypothetical action or condition. Subjunctives are italicized in these sentences: “If Mr. Stafford were [not “was”] fluent in French, he could communicate with his employees more effectively”; “If Sheila had been here, she would have helped us with our math.”

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Grammar

The subjunctive mood of the verb, once used extensively in English, has largely disappeared today. The subjunctive survives, though by no means consistently, in sentences with conditional clauses contrary to fact and in subordinate clauses after verbs like wish: If the house were nearer to the road, we would hear more traffic noise. I wish I were in Florida. The subjunctive also occurs in subordinate that clauses after a main clause expressing recommendation, resolution, demand, etc.: We ask that each tenant take (not takes ) responsibility for keeping the front door locked. It is important that only fresh spinach be (not is ) used. The subjunctive occurs too in some established or idiomatic expressions: So be it. Heaven help us. God rest ye merry, gentlemen. Were in the phrase as it were, meaning “in a way,” is a subjunctive: His apology, as it were, sounded more like an insult.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subjunctively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• subjunctives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of subjunctive

1520–30; < Late Latin subjunctīvus, equivalent to subjunct ( us ) (past participle of subjungere to subjoin, equivalent to sub- sub- + jung ( ere ) to join + -tus past participle suffix) + -īvus -ive

Explanation

The subjunctive is a verb mood that expresses a possibility and is often used for wished, desired, or possible (but not definite) states of being. Subjunctive phrases often begin with the words, "If I were..." "If I were President, I would make school illegal!" That sounds like something a little kid would say, and it's in a verb mood little kids probably can't name yet: the subjunctive. The subjunctive mood applies to conditional sentences, such as "I wish the new Batman movie were in theaters now." Thoughts expressed in the subjunctive mood are usually possibilities or desires — they aren't facts. People often use the subjunctive to talk about what they wish were true.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

subjunctive subjunctives

Using the subjunctive verb correctly in all languages can be tricky, but journalists mostly put it to use in contrary-to-fact statements.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026

That wasn’t the case because the statement in question was formulated vaguely and in the subjunctive, noting that the evaluation was based on initial information and further clarification was in progress, the court found.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2023

But the real secrets of its origin are revealed in its sixth word, consectetur, which happens to be the third-person singular present active subjunctive of the deponent Latin verb consector, which means “to pursue eagerly.”

From Slate ● Jan. 30, 2023

After I dropped the subjunctive and began to talk about when she died, a barrier was eliminated.

From Washington Post ● Mar. 12, 2022

But otherwise the subjunctive is found only in subordinate clauses, generally with mandative verbs and adjectives, which indicate that something is demanded or required: I insist that she be kept in the loop.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

“What Slavic 101 couldn’t name didn’t exist,” Batuman writes; Nina’s reality remains untroubled by conditionals and subjunctives.

From Slate ● Mar. 20, 2017

Bereft at my determination to be cheerful and my reluctance to get on with grim Latin subjunctives, he wrote: "Charm alone will not get him through."

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2014

My knowledge of subjunctives failed long ago and my old schoolmaster has now joined Virgil and the subjunctives across the River Styx.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2014

Lennon's future changed the world of subjunctives and, as for me, it seems I have done rather well out of charm alone.

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2014

In the verb "to be" —— present and —— past subjunctives have different forms.

From Practical Exercises in English by Buehler, Huber Gray