SAT Writing and Language / The Subjunctive

SAT Writing and Language / The Subjunctive

by Jordan Moore

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar has tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

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​

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar has tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

​The grammatical moods are:

​

• ​the indicative mood:

  • ​This mood is used to express a fact statement

  • the verb in the indicative mood expresses an action as a statement of fact.

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar has tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

​The grammatical moods are:

​

• ​the indicative mood:

  • ​This mood is used to express a fact statement

  • the verb in the indicative mood expresses an action as a statement of fact.

​

​She likes the gift.

​He always cooks his meals.

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar has tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

​The grammatical moods are:

​

• ​Imperative Mood:

  This mood is used to express a command or a request statement. The tone of the sentence is a direct command, not a mild suggestion.

​

​Clean your room.

At three o'clock, call the boss. 

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar has tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

​The grammatical moods are:

​

• Interrogative Mood:

  This mood is used to express a sense of uncertainty by asking a question. The question contains an auxiliary verb (helping verb) and then a main verb.

Are you coming to the summer camp?

Where have the children gone?

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar had tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

​The grammatical moods are:

​

• Conditional Mood:

  This mood is used to express a condition statement. The sentence contains an auxiliary verb (helping verb) that supports a main verb.

​

​If you want to visit your friends, you should study now. 

If I traveled to Orlando, I would visit Disney World.

The Subjunctive

We know that grammar had tenses, singulars and plurals. Did you know that grammar also has moods. Yep, moods.

​The grammatical moods are:

​

•  Subjunctive Mood:

  This mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency. The verb in the subjunctive mood always changes.

​If I were in her situation, I would never drive. (Expresses a hypothetical situation)

My mother demanded he prepare the luggage. (Expresses a demand)

I wish my sister were faster at preparing food in the morning. (Expresses a wish)

​

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

​

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

​

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

​

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

​

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

​It is vital that you turn in your homework on time.

​The teacher demanded that students return to their seats.

​I suggest that you be in line early if you want to get tickets.

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

​

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

​

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a wish, doubt, demand, or a hypothetical situation

2. ​the word "that"

​It is vital that you turn in your homework on time.

​The teacher demanded that students return to their seats.

​I suggest that you be in line early if you want to get tickets.

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

​

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

​

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

​It is vital that you turn in your homework on time.

​The teacher demanded that students return to their seats.

​I suggest that you be in line early if you want to get tickets.

The Subjunctive

The Subjunctive

Verb: to do (infinitive)

did (past) - I did my homework

​do (present) - I do my homework

​will do (future) - I will do my homework

​

​Verbs in the present subjunctive are the same as in the infinitive, but we drop the "to"

​

​do (present subjunctive) - I suggest that you do your homework.

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

The present subjunctive does not depend on the subject; here the present subjunctive form of "to be" remains the same, even as the subject changes

​It is important that I be on time.

​​It is important that you be on time.

​​It is important that she be on time.

​​It is important that we be on time.

​​It is important that they be on time.

Multiple Choice

Fleas are among the most annoying of pests, but they are also amazing.

Does this sentence contain a present subjunctive?

• yes

• no

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

Fleas are among the most annoying of pests, but they are also amazing.

Multiple Choice

If you have cats or dogs, it is important that you take steps to protect them from fleas.

Does this sentence contain a present subjunctive?

• yes

• no

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

If you have cats or dogs, it is important that you take steps to protect them from fleas.

​

Multiple Choice

Thus, vets strongly recommend that you be vigilant and stop fleas before they become established.

Does this sentence contain a present subjunctive?

• yes

• no

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

Thus, vets strongly recommend that you be vigilant and stop fleas before they become established.

​

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that"

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

There is one exception to our three rules for the present subjunctive

​

• ​we don't ALWAYS need the word "that"

​I recommend that you do your homework.

​I recommend you do your home.

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that" the word "that" OR the possibility that "that" could be inserted and still make sense

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

​

There is one exception to our three rules for the present subjunctive

​

• ​we don't ALWAYS need the word "that"

​I recommend that you do your homework.

​I recommend you do your home.

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that" the word "that" OR the possibility that "that" could be inserted and still make sense

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

​It is vital that you turn in your homework on time.

​The teacher demanded that students return to their seats.

​I suggest that you be in line early if you want to get tickets.​

Multiple Choice

When Helen applies to colleges, I suggest that she ____ serious about her selections.

• be

• is

Multiple Choice

When Helen applies to colleges, I suggest that she be serious about her selections. It is vital she _____ only to schools she really would enjoy attending.

• applies

• apply

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

In the present tense, sentences in the subjunctive mood generally feature:

1. ​a verb or phrase indicating a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

2. ​the word "that" the word "that" OR the possibility that "that" could be inserted and still make sense

3. ​another verb in the "that" clause

​It is vital that you turn in your homework on time.

​The teacher demanded that students return to their seats.

​I suggest that you be in line early if you want to get tickets.​

The Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is used to express a recommendation, command, necessity, or urgency.

​

The subjunctive mood is ALSO used to express contrary-to-fact statements

​

​

contrary-to-fact statements are hypothetical statements, or statements of wishes

The Subjunctive

When the subjunctive indicates ​contrary-to-fact statements are hypothetical statements, or statements of wishes it is called the past subjunctive.

​

​The past subjunctive usually includes the word "if" or "wish"

​

​The past subjunctive uses were instead of was.

​I was → I were

​​You were → You were

​​He was → He were

​​She was → She were

​​It was → It were

The Subjunctive

When the subjunctive indicates ​contrary-to-fact statements (hypothetical statements, or statements of wishes) it is called the past subjunctive.

​The past subjunctive usually includes the word "if" or "wish"

​The past subjunctive uses were instead of was.

​I was → I were

​​You were → You were

​​He was → He were

​​She was → She were

​​It was → It were

​

​​I wish that I were a billionaire.

​Fleas can jump up to 200 times their body length, meaning that if you were able to jump in the same proportion, you could jump several football fields in a single leap.

The Subjunctive

​This is called the Past Subjunctive - but don't be fooled by the name.

​It is used to indicate Contrary-to-fact statements or statements of wishes in the past, present and future

​​Jimmie wished that his girlfriend were with him.​

​Jimmie wishes that his girlfriend were with him.

​​​Jimmie will wish that his girlfriend were with him.

Multiple Choice

When Danielle and Tony entered the dance competition, their coach demanded they ___ respectful of their opponents.

• be

• were

Multiple Choice

I know that if Henry ___ here, he would vote with me, but since he's not, I guess my vote is the only one against the motion.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

I am truly sorry for your loss and wish there ___ something I could do to fix things, but as it is, all I can do is offer you my sincere condolences and my undying friendship.

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

The committee recommends that the bill ___ revised before submission to the entire legislature.

 

• be

• should be

Multiple Choice

If he ___ serious about wanting to take calculus next year, he would spend more time studying.

 

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

If he were serious about wanting to take calculus next year, I would recommend that he ___ trigonometry over the summer, but it was clear to me that he was joking.

 

• takes

• take

Multiple Choice

When he___a boy, he collected stamps in the hopes of being rich, but great wealth was not to be.

 

• was

• were

Multiple Choice

The dictator decreed that all citizens' homes ___ searched for signs of insurrection

 

• be

• are

Multiple Choice

If any student ___ interested in joining the Principal's Advisory Committee, please see Principal Ewing.

• is

• were

Multiple Choice

If any student is interested in joining the Principal's Advisory Committee, Principal Ewing suggests he or she ___ a meeting this Friday to help plan the dance.

• attend

• attends

Multiple Choice

If I ___ in charged of the Principal's Avisory Committee, we'd have pizza lunch everyday!

• were

• was