The Subjunctive in English - Complete Advanced English Grammar Lesson

- Hello, lovely students,

and welcome back to English with Lucy.

I have an advanced grammar lesson for you today.

We are going to cover the subjunctive mood

and if I were you, I'd pay attention.

This lesson is aimed at B2 to C1 learners of English

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Right, let's get started with the lesson.

You probably already use the subjunctive mood

at certain times when you are speaking English,

particularly in some conditional sentences.

If you have ever said, "If I were you,"

you have used the subjunctive.

I want to help you expand your knowledge

with a few different verbs we use in the subjunctive mood.

But firstly, what is the subjunctive mood?

We use it to express wishes and imagine situations

and to make proposals and suggestions.

Let's look at wish, if only, and would rather.

They often have this construction.

"I wish he were here."

"If only I were taller."

"I would rather he played outside more often

instead of always sitting on the computer."

These are examples of the subjunctive mood.

Now, you will often hear native speakers say

"I wish he was here," for example.

The subjunctive mood in general is slowly falling

out of use, but it's imperative that you learn it

if you want to pass any exam or test in English.

You will hear lots of native speakers using it

and you'll especially want to use it

in more formal situations and in writing.

Let's talk about the subjunctive verb forms.

The present subjunctive uses the base form of the verb

with all subjects.

We use the present subjunctive

to talk about a present or future hypothetical.

For example, "I suggested he stop eating out so often

if he wants to save money."

You can see that I used the base form

of the verb stop and not stops,

as would normally follow a third person singular subject.

It is often tricky to see that the subjunctive is being used

if the sentence doesn't contain

a third person singular subject.

If I said, "I suggested they stop eating out

so often if they want to save money,"

you can't see that the verbs stop is in the subjunctive form

but this is a subjunctive sentence.

In the past subjunctive, we use the past simple form,

or, with be, we use were with all subjects.

We use the past subjunctive to talk about things

that we wish were true

or that we wish had happened in the past.

"I wish she were here."

Again, we use were and not was to indicate

that this is something imagined.

We often use the past subjunctive in subordinate clauses

that begin with as though, as if, and if,

as well as with the verb wish.

Some examples, "He looked straight through me

as if I were invisible."

Or, "Dylan seemed so confident

as though he knew he would win from the very beginning."

In the second example it's difficult

to see the subjunctive being used but it is there.

Now let's talk about verbs and phrases

that are followed by the subjunctive.

Sentences in the subjunctive mood

often contain multiple clauses.

Here are some of the phrases and verbs

that can be followed by the subjunctive with examples.

Suggest, "I suggest he go home immediately

and check on his mom."

Recommend, "I recommend you take two tablets per day."

Request, "We requested that she come an hour earlier

to help us set up."

Demand, "He demands they clean their rooms, right now."

Ask, "I ask that we change the time of the event

as so many people can't make it."

Insist, "They insisted he move his car

as it is blocking the road."

Propose, "She proposes the team continue training

for as long as possible tonight."

It is important that, "It is important

that she be given priority."

It is advisable that, "It is advisable

that they stay outside for as short a time as possible."

It is imperative that, "It is imperative

that work stop immediately while we wait for the inspector."

Finally, I'd like to show you some common phrases in English

that contain the subjunctive.

Suffice to say, "Suffice to say, Ellen wasn't very happy

when they arrived two hours late."

Or be that as it may, "Be that as it may,

we can't wait for them forever."

One of my favourites, heaven forbid,

"Heaven forbid anything happen to them."

And so be it, we use that on its own, "So be it."

This is an expression of acceptance or resignation.

"So be it.

I'll let you have the job."

Come what may, "They're pushing ahead

with the new road, come what may."

And finally, far be it.

"Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do."

With "Far be it from me to tell anyone what to do,"

it's saying that I'm not intending

to tell anyone what to do.

If I say, "Far be it from me to criticise,"

I might be proceeding something that might sound

like criticism, but I don't want it to be criticism.

All of these phrases sound incredibly formal

and quite old fashioned.

I personally like them.

I think they sound very eloquent and interesting.

Right, that's it for today's lesson.

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I will see you soon for another lesson.

Bye. (smooches)

Today we are learning about the submunctive.

Great, brilliant start there.

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