Subjunctive Mood: What Is the Subjunctive Mood?
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Subjunctive Mood: What Is the Subjunctive Mood?
A GrammarBook reader came across this sentence: If I were very lucky, I would get the chance to go. She asked, “Shouldn’t I be followed by was, not were, since I is singular?”
This is type of question is common within English grammar, particularly because it walks the line between the conditional tense and the subjunctive mood when a dependent if clause is involved.
The difference lies in that the subjunctive mood in an if clause declares a wish or a supposition that is either impossible or highly unlikely.
The conditional tense, on the other hand, conveys a possible scenario with a plausible speculative result. (Note also that the conditional tense will always include an if clause; the subjunctive mood does not always include one, as we’ll see in the next section.)
Examples
If I were a billionaire, I’d sail around the world for the next ten years. (subjunctive mood for a highly unlikely scenario; very slim chance of becoming a billionaire)If she was a better listener, she would understand the details more clearly. (conditional tense for a possible scenario with a plausible speculative result; possibility of becoming a better listener)
To indicate the mood it represents, the subjunctive alters proper verb conjugation. With the verb to be in a contrary-to-fact if clause, the subjunctive always uses the past tense were.
Examples
“If I were an Oscar Meyer wiener …”If you were seven feet tall, you might be able to slam-dunk that basketball.
If Stephen were king of the world, he would make donuts free for everyone.
What Is the Subjunctive Mood: Other Uses
The subjunctive mood also appears in other statements expressing a wish, demand, suggestion, or recommendation.
In these contexts, the subjunctive alters verb conjugation by dropping the -s from the third-person singular tense. If the verb is to be, the subjunctive uses the present tense be. If the verb already does not include the -s ending, as for you, there is no change.
Examples
She requested that he lower his asking price. (expressing a wish)The school requires that Mary arrive at school on time. (expressing a demand)
Shane proposes that we be ready to modify the blueprints for the new shopping mall. (expressing a suggestion)
The fire department recommends that you test your fire alarms regularly to ensure they are properly working. (expressing a recommendation)
What Is the Subjunctive Mood: It’s Not the Conditional
Because the subjunctive and the conditional can be so commonly confused, it bears repeating what their difference is.
As we’ve discussed, the conditional tense conveys a possible scenario with a speculative result, and it will always include a dependent if clause.
The conditional tense also does not alter verb conjugation in the way the subjunctive mood does to indicate itself.
Examples
If he lowers the asking price, she will accept the deal.If Mary arrives at school on time, she will not be marked as tardy.
If we are ready to modify the blueprints, we will save more time in the planning for the new shopping mall.
If you test your fire alarms regularly, you can ensure they are properly working.
In light of what we’ve discussed, we can return to our opening sentence to determine if we should use the subjunctive mood or the conditional tense: If I was/were very lucky, I would get the chance to go.
What is the answer? It probably depends on how plausible—or not—you believe your luck can be.
Pop Quiz
Now that you further understand what the subjunctive mood is, choose the correct verb in each of the following sentences:
1. If I [was / were] Superman, I could have won that race.
2. Management has required that we [be / are] at the party this weekend.
3. If she [was / were] truly your friend, she wouldn’t talk behind your back.
4. Beth has proposed he [tries / try] a different approach.
5. If he [raise / raises] his hand, he will be the first one chosen.
Pop Quiz Answers
1. If I were Superman, I would have won that race. (subjunctive: I am not and will never be Superman.)
2. Management has required that we be at the party this weekend. (subjunctive: expression of a demand)
3. If she was truly your friend, she wouldn’t talk behind your back. (conditional: She could be your friend, but right now she is not.)
4. Beth has proposed he try a different approach. (subjunctive: expression of a suggestion)
5. If he raises his hand, he will be the first one chosen. (conditional: possible scenario with a plausible speculative result)
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
Do I use “was” or “were” in these two sentences?
1. It was as if someone “was”standing between her and the car.
OR
It was as if someone “were” standing between her and the car.
2. You have to resist hurt like it “was” someone trying to break into your house!
OR
You have to resist hurt like it “were” someone trying to break into your house!
(In this case “like it” means “as if it.”)
Please advise, thank you.
Your example sentences establish scenarios that are plausible in theory even if potentially unlikely. Therefore, “was” is correct.
It was as if someone was standing between her and the car.
You have to resist hurt as if it was someone trying to break into your house! (We suggest avoiding “like.” See Prepositions for more information.)
I’ve searched the web on several occasions to answer this longstanding curiosity, and this is the first to delve past the obvious “was is singular, were is plural” explanation. The pop quiz helped make the wonderful explanation sink in. I didn’t even have to scroll past page-long ads to read the material. My sincerest thanks, team Grammarbook!
I would offer a different view of hypothetical or contrary-to-fact “if” clauses referring to a situation in present time, and I always use the subjunctive “were” in those cases: “If she were a better listener, she would understand the details more clearly.” The point is that she is not a better listener, so your “if” clause is contrary to fact. Also I would use subjunctive “were” in the clause “if she were truly your friend, she wouldn’t talk behind your back.” Same reasoning.
I use indicative when the “if” clause is a “neutral condition.” Example: I saw everyone at the party. If X was there, I didn’t see him. It’s not a contrary-to-fact “if” clause, but merely a clause indicating that if A is true, then B is true, not if A were true (but is not), then B would be true.
I would guess that the above indicates that I am a prescriptivist from the past.
We understand the distinction that you’re explaining, which resides in perception of nuance. As the article points out, the subjunctive mood indicates an “if” scenario that is either impossible or highly unlikely. In your first example, she might be a bad listener, but in theory she could become a better one down the line if something in her life unexpectedly changed. The same principle holds true for “if she were truly your friend…” She might not be your friend right now, and the possibility of that changing could be unlikely, but once again, something unforeseen could alter that condition.
For this reason, we put forth that one could use either the conditional or the subjunctive in this scenario depending on their own interpretation of the nuance, i.e., do they believe a change is nearly impossible, or do they subscribe to the theory that a character trait can adjust while one is still living?