Scribd
Upload
498 views

Unreal Time and Subjunctives

This document discusses the subjunctive mood in English grammar. It explains that the subjunctive is sometimes used in formal style with verbs like "be" and in fixed phrases like "God save the Queen." It also discusses "unreal time" where past tenses can have present or future meaning in contexts like wishes or hypothetical situations. Examples are provided of transforming sentences to the subjunctive form. Exercises are included where readers must change verbs to the appropriate subjunctive form.

Uploaded by

Nuno Pires
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
498 views

Unreal Time and Subjunctives

This document discusses the subjunctive mood in English grammar. It explains that the subjunctive is sometimes used in formal style with verbs like "be" and in fixed phrases like "God save the Queen." It also discusses "unreal time" where past tenses can have present or future meaning in contexts like wishes or hypothetical situations. Examples are provided of transforming sentences to the subjunctive form. Exercises are included where readers must change verbs to the appropriate subjunctive form.

Uploaded by

Nuno Pires
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 10

Unreal Time and

Subjunctives
ENGLISH III

Formal Subjunctives

Special kind of present tense which has no s in the third person sing
sometimes used in formal style.

It is essential that every child have the same educational opportunit


Our advice is that the company invest in new equipment.
Do is not used in negative subjunctives:

We consider it desirable that he not leave school before finishing h

Be
Be has special subjunctive forms:
The Director asked that he be allowed to advertise for more staff.
I wish it were Saturday.

Most subjunctive structures are formal and unusual in British


English. Most people prefer to use should + infinitive.
It is essential that every child have the same educational
opportunities.
It is essential that every child should have the same educational
opportunities.
Our advice is that the company invest in new equipment.
Our advice is that the company should invest in new equipment.

Fixed phrases
Subjunctives are common in some old, fixed phrases, such as:
God save the Queen
God bless you
Heaven help us!
Come what may

Unreal Time
Older English had more subjunctive forms, and used them in may
kinds of unreal sense to talk about possible, desirable or
imaginary situations. Many of these forms have disappeared from
modern English, being replaced by modal verbs and special uses of
past tense.
Many of these past tenses have present and future meanings.
Its time/ Its high time/ would rather/ wish:
Its time we left
Dont come ad see me today , Id rather you came tomorrow.
I wish I had a better memory
As if/ as though/ unless/ supposing:
You look as if you were just about to scream.
Supposing we didnt go on holiday next year?
You wont get any tickets, unless you bought them in June.

Put each verb in brackets into an appropriate


verb form
1.

It's high time you ___________________(start) working seriously.

2.

I wish I _______________(spend) more time swimming last summer.

3.

Helen is bossy. She acts as if she ________________(own) the place.

4.

I wish you ______________________(not/keep) coming late to class.

5.

Suppose a complete stranger ______________(leave) you a lot of money


in their will!

6.

I wish I __________________________(go) to your party after all.

7. I'd rather you_______________________ (sit) next to Susan, please.


8. The government demanded that the ambassador ________________ (be)
recalled.
9. You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I____________________ (go) with you.

Complete the second sentence so that it has a


similar meaning to the first sentence, using
the word given.
1. I should really be going home now.
It's ________________________________________________________

time

2.I'd rather not go by plane.


I'd _________________________________________________________

prefer

3. Jack doesn't know all the answers, though he pretends to.


Jack _______________________________________________________

acts

4. I'd love to be able to go with you to the opera.


I ____________________________________________________________
5. I wish I hadn't sold that old painting.
It's _______________________________________________________

wish

pity

6. I'd rather you didn't stay long at the party.


better
It
____________________________________________________________
7. The management said it was important for us to wear dark
suits to the
meeting.
insisted
The
__________________________________________________________
8. I've had enough of your constant complaining!
wish
I ____________________________________________________________
9. I'd love to be sitting on a beach in Turkey right now!
wish

CORRECTION Put each verb in brackets into an


appropriate verb form
1.

It's high time you STARTED (start) working seriously.

2.

I wish I HAD SPENT (spend) more time swimming last summer.

3.

Helen is bossy. She acts as if she OWNS (own) the place.

4.

I wish you DIDNT KEEP (not/keep) coming late to class.

5.

Suppose a complete stranger LEFT (leave) you a lot of money


in their will!

6.

I wish I HAD GONE (go) to your party after all.

7. I'd rather you SAT (sit) next to Susan, please.


8. The government demanded that the ambassador BE (be)
recalled.
9. You are lucky going to Italy. I wish I WERE GOING/COULD GO (go)
with you.

CORRECTION Complete the second sentence


so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given.
1. I should really be going home now.
It's HIGH TIME I WENT HOME.
2.I'd rather not go by plane.
I'd PREFER NOT TO GO BY PLANE

time

prefer

3. Jack doesn't know all the answers, though he pretends to.


Jack ACTS AS IF HE KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS

acts

4. I'd love to be able to go with you to the opera.


I WISH I COULD GO WITH YOU TO THE OPERA.

wish

5. I wish I hadn't sold that old painting.


It's A PITY I (HAVE) SOLD THAT OLD PAINTING.

pity

6. I'd rather you didn't stay long at the party.


better
It WOULD BE BETTER IF YOU DIDNT STAY LONG AT THE
PARTY.
7. The management said it was important for us to wear dark
suits to the
meeting.
insisted
The MANAGEMENT INSISTED THAT WE WEAR DARK SUITS TO
THE MEETING.
8. I've had enough of your constant complaining!
wish
I WISH YOU DIDNT COMPLAIN SO MUCH!
9. I'd love to be sitting on a beach in Turkey right now!
wish
I WISH I WERE SITTING ON A BEACH IN TURKEY RIGHT

You might also like