Subjunctive

FORM

Use the simple form of the verb. The simple form is the infinitive without the "to." The
simple form of the verb "to go" is "go." The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms
and tenses.

USE

The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain

expressions (see below).

Examples:

 I suggest that he study.

 Is it essential that we be there?
 Don recommended that you join the committee.

NOTICE

The Subjunctive is only noticeable in certain forms and tenses. In the examples below, the
Subjunctive is not noticeable in the you-form of the verb, but it is noticeable in the he-form of
the verb.

Examples:

 You try to study often. you-form of "try"

 It is important that you try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" looks the same.

 He tries to study often. he-form of "try"

 It is important that he try to study often. Subjunctive form of "try" is noticeable here.

Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following verbs:

to advise (that)
to ask (that)
to command (that)
to demand (that)
to desire (that)
to insist (that)
to propose (that)
to recommend (that)
to request (that)
to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
Examples:

 Dr. Smith asked that Mark submit his research paper before the end of the month.
 Donna requested Frank come to the party.
 The teacher insists that her students be on time.

Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive

The Subjunctive is used after the following expressions:

It is best (that)
It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that)
It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that)
It is important (that)
It is recommended (that)
It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that)
It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)

Examples:

 It is crucial that you be there before Tom arrives.

 It is important she attend the meeting.
 It is recommended that he take a gallon of water with him if he wants to hike to the
bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive

The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.

Negative Examples:

 The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.

 The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during business
hours.
 I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.

Passive Examples:

 Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.

 Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.
 We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.

Continuous Examples:
  It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.
 It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.
 I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.

Should as Subjunctive
After many of the above expressions, the word "should" is sometimes used to express the
idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more frequently in British English and is most
common after the verbs "suggest," "recommend" and "insist."

Examples:

 The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.
 Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.

EXERCISE:

Fill in the blanks below with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Negative, passive and
continuous subjunctive forms are possible. In some sentences you don’t have to use the subjunctive
but the indicative.

1. It's important that she (remember) __________________ to take her medicine twice a day.

2. I suggest that Frank (read) ______________ the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle.
He doesn't want the wheels to fall off while he is riding down a hill

3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater (repair) ___________________ immediately. Her
apartment was freezing.

4. It's vital that the United States (focus) ______________on improving its public education system.
What we do now will affect our country for generations to come.

5. The monk insisted that the tourists (enter) ________________ the temple until they had removed
their shoes.

6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately (apologize)
______________ for what she just said.
7. Judy asked that we (attend) ______________ her graduation ceremony next week.

8. Was it really necessary that (sit) I ______________ there watching you the entire time you were
rehearsing for the play? It was really boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.

9. It is important to remember that Janine (think) ____________ very differently from you. She may
not agree to the changes you have made in the organization of the company.

10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all (drive) ___________ together so
that nobody gets lost along the way.

11. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) ______________ to store's information desk so his
parents could be paged.

12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally (reduce) ____________ her daily fat intake.

13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely important that the people of the city (allow)
________________ to voice their concerns over the new hotel being built on the bay.

14. She told me that the government (regulate) ____________ the airline industry. I don't know if
that is true.

15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (swim) ______________ after eating a large meal.

16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor) ______________ the summing pool while the children
are taking their swimming lessons.

17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) _____________ sunblock immediately before you
get a sun burn.

18. John insists that Sarah (invite) ______________ to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.

19. I think it's an interesting fact that she (come) ___________ from Estonia.

20. It is imperative that the world (work) ____________ towards a solution to global warming before
the weather patterns of the world are disrrupted irreparably.
SOLUTIONS:

1. It's important that she (remember) remember to take her medicine twice a day.

2. I suggest that Frank (read) read the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle. He doesn't
want the wheels to fall off while he
is riding down a hill

3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater (repair) be repaired immediately. Her apartment was
freezing.

4. It's vital that the United States (focus) focus on improving its public education system. What we do
now will affect our country for
generations to come.

5. The monk insisted that the tourists (enter) not enter the temple until they had removed their
shoes.

6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately (apologize)
apologize for what she just said.

7. Judy asked that we (attend) attend her graduation ceremony next week.

8. Was it really necessary that (sit) I be sitting there watching you the entire time you were
rehearsing for the play? It was really
boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.

9. It is important to remember that Janine (think) thinks very differently from you. She may not
agree to the changes you have made in
the organization of the company.

10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all (drive) drive together so that
nobody gets lost along the way.

11. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) be taken to store's information desk so his parents
could be paged.

12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally (reduce) reduce her daily fat intake.

13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely important that the people of the city (allow) be
allowed to voice their concerns over the
new hotel being built on the bay.

14. She told me that the government (regulate) regulates the airline industry. I don't know if that is
true.
15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (swim) not swim after eating a large meal.

16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor) monitor the summing pool while the children are taking
their swimming lessons.

17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) put on sunblock immediately before you get a sun
burn.

18. John insists that Sarah (invite) be invited to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.

19. I think it's an interesting fact that she (come) comes from Estonia.

20. It is imperative that the world (work) work towards a solution to global warming before the
weather patterns of the world are disrrupted irreparably.