subjunctive mood
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From subjunctive, from Latin subjunctivus, from sub- (“under”) + junctus (“joined”), perfect passive participle of jungere (“to join”) + adjective suffix -ivus, + mood, from Latin modus.
Noun[edit]
subjunctive mood (plural subjunctive moods)
- (grammar) Mood expressing an action or state which is hypothetical or anticipated rather than actual, including wishes and commands.
- If John were here, he would know what to do.
- If this be liberty, then give me death!
- I wish that I were there.
- I want that he go.
Usage notes[edit]
Subjunctive mood is used much more in some other languages, such as Spanish and Latin, than it is in English. Apart from the third-person singular form without the suffix -(e)s (I want that he go), modern English has only one verb that has mutually distinguishable indicative and subjunctive forms — be.
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- be (subjunctive present, all persons except for archaic second-person singular)
- I suggest that that measure be taken.
- beest (archaic second-person singular, subjunctive present)
- Stephano!—If thou beest Stephano, touch me, and speak to me; for I am Trinculo:—be not afeared—thy good friend Trinculo. -- 1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest
- wert (archaic second-person singular, subjunctive past)
- If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, ... -- 1611, The Bible, Job 8:6 (King James (Authorised) Version)
- I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. -- 1611, The Bible, Revelation 3:15 (King James (Authorised) Version)
- were (first- and third-person singular, subjunctive past)
- If John were here, he would know what to do.
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See also the inflection at be.
Synonyms[edit]
Translations[edit]
subjunctive mood
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