GRAMMAR REVIEW 4.

PAST AND PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

PART 1. PAST SUBJUNCTIVE
• Wishes about the present
For wishes about the present we use / wish + the past simple. The time
referred to is an imaginary present.
- I wish I knew the answer to this question. (I do not know the answer.)
- I wish I didn't have so much work to do. (I do have a lot of work.)
• Wishes about the past
For wishes about the past we use / wish + the past perfect. The time referred
to is past time.
- I wish I had gone to your party last week. (I did not go.)
• Wishes about the future
We can use could to refer to a future event.
- I wish June could meet me next week.
Wish
We also use could to refer to something that is generally difficult or
impossible.
- I wish I could drive.
- I wish I could contact him, but I don't have my mobile phone with me. We
can also use have to to refer to a future event.
- I wish I didn't have to get up early tomorrow.
• Wishes using would
When we want to complain about a bad habit we use I wish + would.
- I wish Peter wouldn't chew gum all the time.
We also use / wish + would to refer to something that we would like to
happen.
- I wish the police would do something about these people!
We can replace I wish with If only for emphasis.
- If only I knew the answer to this question! If only I had gone to your party last
If Only
week!
In speech, only is often heavily stressed.
The construction it's time I/you/we ... is followed by a past tense.
- Sorry, but it's time we went home.
The meaning here is similar to a second conditional.
- If we went home, it would be better.
High can be added for extra emphasis.
It’s time
- It's high time you learned to look after yourself!
-It's time can also be used with the infinitive. The meaning changes slightly.
- It's time you started work! (you are being lazy and not working)
- It's time to start work. (a simple statement of fact)
The construction I'd rather I/you/we ... is followed by a past tense.
- I'd rather you didn't tell John about this.
Would rather/
The meaning here is similar to a second conditional.
sooner/ prefer
- If you didn't tell John about this, it would be better.
Would prefer it if + subject + past tense
Would prefer it
- Sue would prefer it if you didn’t phone. (present reference)
if
- Sue would have preferred it if you hadn’t phoned. (past reference)
In informal speech we can use suppose or imagine in place of if. The
Suppose/ construction is a normal second conditional.
 Imagine - Suppose you lost your keys. What would you do?
- Imagine you were rich. How would you feel?
Real and unreal
The verb form here depends on whether the situation is true or unreal.
- You look as if you're having second thoughts.
(True. He is having second thoughts.)
As if/ As - He acts as if he were in charge. (Unreal. He isn't in charge.)
though - I feel as if an express train had hit me. (It didn't hit me.)
Note however, that the more colloquial like does not require this verb form
change. Compare:
You look like you've just seen a ghost
You look as if you'd just seen a ghost.
These are fixed expressions all using subjunctive. Typical expressions are:
Formulaic God save the Queen!
Subjunctives Be that as it may ...
Come what may ...

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V.

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VII.
VIII.
IX.

X.

PART II. PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE.

Present Subjunctive: The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after
certain expressions.
E.g: - I suggest that he study/ should study.
- Is it essential that we be/ should be there?
 - Don recommended that you join/ should join the committee.
1. Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive:
to advise (that) to ask (that)
to command (that) to demand (that)
to desire (that) to insist (that)
to propose (that) to recommend (that)
to request (that) to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
2. Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive:
It is best (that) It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that) It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that) It is important (that)
It is recommended (that) It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that) It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
* Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive
The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.
a. Active Examples:
- The boss insisted that Sam be at the meeting.
- I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.
b. Passive Examples:
- Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.
- Christine demanded that I not be allowed to take part in the negotiations.
c. Progressive:
- He asked that I be sitting still without touching his things on the table.
- The boss requested his secretary not be waiting idly for the job to be assigned.
3. Fixed Expressions using the Subjunctive:
…, as it were (in a way, so to speak)
Be that is it may... (Whether that is true or not…)
Come what may… (Whatever happens…)
Far be it from me to disagree/criticise (To appear less hostile when disagreeing)
God bless you.
God save the Queen!
Heaven help us! (An exclamation of despair)
(An exclamation that you hope something won’t
Heaven forbid!
happen)
If need be... (If it is necessary)
Long live the bride and groom!
…, so be it. (We can’t do anything to change it)
(A suggestion or possibility is unpleasant or
Perish the thought!
ridiculous)
Suffice it to say… (It is obvious/I will give a short explanation)

I. Choose the most appropriate answer.

1. I demand that he ………… immediately.
A. apologize B. shall apologize C. will apologize D. has apologized
2. I suggested that she ………… her lawyer before signing the contract.
A. consults B. hall consult C. will consult D. should consult
3. It is necessary that everything ………… ready by two o'clock tomorrow.
A. be B. was C. were D. would have been
4. They recommend that she ………… to a ski resort in Spain.
A. will go B. would have gone C. should go D. should have gone
5. It is advisable that you ………… your application as soon as possible.
A. submit B. will submit C. will have submitted D. should have submitted
6. He decided to go inside the haunted house, ………… what may.
A. come B. comes C. should come D. would come
7. It is strange that he ………… so upset about such a trifle, isn't it?
A. were B. shall be C. should be D. have been
8. Far ………… it from me to criticize your plan, but I think you should change a few things in it.
A. be B. is C. was D. were
9. The doctor insisted that she ………… to the hospital for tests.
A. go B. goes C. will go D. has gone
10. She suggested that we ………… in the lobby of the hotel at 9:00 a.m.
A. shall meet B. will meet C. should meet D. would have met

II. Change each sentence to the subjunctive mood. These are all requests.
Part A. Use the word "that" to begin a clause after the verb.
Examples: I asked them to be quiet. / The thief told her to give him the money.
I asked that they be quiet. / The thief demanded that she give him the money.
1. She asked him to fix the computer.
She requested _______________________________________________.
2. Sandra wanted the post office to hold onto her mail.
Sandra asked _______________________________________________.
3. The judge told the lawyer to be quiet.
The judge insisted ___________________________________________.
4. My supervisor said it would be a good idea for me to accept this new position.
My supervisor suggested ______________________________________.
5. "He should fix it himself," I said.
I suggested _________________________________________________.
Part B. Change each command to a sentence that uses the subjunctive mood in the clause
following the verb.
6. "Give me a refund," John told the clerk.
John demanded _________________________________________________.
7. "Could you help me move some boxes," Tom asked me.
Tom requested __________________________________________________.
8. " Can you work this weekend?" Sue's boss asked. (Sue is a woman.)
Sue's boss asked _________________________________________________.
9. "Stop drinking so much!" Bill's wife told him.
Bill's mother demanded ____________________________________________.
10. "Take a vacation," our boss told us.
Our boss insisted _________________________________________________.
III. Choose the best answer:
1. It's about time you.................harder for the next exam.
 A. work B. are working C.worked D.have worked
2. The ceiling in this room doesn't look very safe. It looks as if it ............. down.
A.would fall B.falls C.is falling D.is going to fall
3. I wish they........................change their minds so often!
A.shouldn't B.wouldn't C.mightn't D.couldn't
4. I wish I......................the direction closely.
A.be followed B.will follow C.would follow D.had followed
5. I wished I.................on another diet.
A.could live B.can live C.will live D.am living
6. Team rules require that each player …………….. responsible for memorizing one rule--and then
for teaching that rule to all of the players.
A.is B.was C.be D. were
7. To avoid unnecessary injury, the coach insisted that the players' tackling drills …………… on
the proper way to fall down.
A. focused B.focus C.were focused D. to focuse
IV. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.
1. I’d rather you _________________(not/drive) so fast, Pat.
2. Sue went to France this year, but she says she would rather _______________ (go) to Spain.
3. It’s a shame you missed the party; I would rather you ___________________ (be) there.
4. John had better _____________________ (not/speak) to me like that again.
5. He says he’d rather _____________ (cook) his own food than eat in restaurants.
6. I’d rather you _________________ (not/mention) this to anyone until next week.
7. Tim’s mother would rather he __________________ (work) closer to home than he does.
8. Greg says he would rather ___________________ ( not/leave) things as they are.
9. She would prefer to meet you personally rather than ________________ (talk) to you over the
phone.
10. Sean prefers playing football to _______________________ (watch) it.
11. Would you rather _____________________ (write) in ink or in pencil?
12. Sheila prefers ______________ (get up) early in the morning rather than _______________
(oversleep)
13. Would he prefer _________________ (drive) to work tomorrow rather than cycle?
14. I would rather _________________ (speak) directly to the manager than _________________
(deal) with his rude secretary as I did.
15. My father prefers to have a beard rather than _________________ (have) a shave every day.
16. Tom prefers _______________ (ski) to _________________ (skate).
17. Wouldn’t you prefer to sit on this seat rather than ______(stand) for the whole journey?
18. We’d better ______________ (take) some money for a taxy in case we ____________ (miss) the
bus home.
19. We would rather ________________ (stay) at home tonight.
20. Mr. Jones would rather __________________ (stay) at home last night.
21. The policeman would rather _______________ (work) on Saturday than on Sunday.
22. Maria would rather that we _________________ (study) more than we do.
23. George would rather __________________ (not study) tonight.
24. The photographer would rather __________________ (have) more light.
25. The photographer would rather that we _______________ (stand) closer together than we are
standing.
26. Carmen would rather ___________________ (not cook) for the entire family.
27. She would rather that you __________________ (not arrive) last night.
28. John would rather ________________ (sleep) than worked last night.
V. Transformation.
1. Please don’t tell anyone about it.
- I’d rather you_____________________________________________________
2. I would prefer you deliver the sofa this afternoon.
- I’d rather you ____________________________________________________
3. Why don’t you ask her yourself?
- My friend suggests that __________________________________________
4. She urged her husband to apply for the post in the government.
- She urged that her husband __________________________________________
5. They insisted on my coming early.
- They insisted that _________________________________________________
6. An accountant needs to master computer science.
- It is necessary that _________________________________________________
7. It’s time for us to leave now.
- It’s time we ____________________________________________________
8. What a pity ! Your sister can’t come with us.
- If only __________________________________________________________
9. Everyone find it important for us to do something save the environment.
- It is important that we ______________________________________________
10. Michael lost his job last month, so he cannot buy a car.
- If Michael _____________________________________________________
11. He regrets applying for the job in that company.
- He wishes ____________________________________________________
12. The headmaster insists on every schoolgirl’s wearing ao dai every Monday.
- The headmaster insists that __________________________________________
13. They advise her to eat less meat and fat to keep herself healthy.
- It is advisable that she ____________________________________________
14. Naturally, a child had better respect his parents.
- It is natural that ___________________________________________________
15. He needs to come to the interview early.
- It is necessary that ________________________________________________
16. She must find it important to take two medicines every day.
- It is important that _________________________________________________
17. It’s too late. He must go home.
- It’s high time he ___________________________________________________
18. Every student must wear uniform. It is obligatory.
- It is obligatory that ________________________________________________
19. They recommended her to go to the best doctor in town.
- They recommended that she _________________________________________
20. The man demanded to be told everything about the accident .
- The man demanded that everything ___________________________________
_____ The End____