The Subjunctive Mood

As noted in the Grammar Review, the subjunctive mood is used to indicate a hypothetical situation, a wish, or a circum­stance contrary to fact. Examples of the last might be, “If I were rich,” said by someone who is not, or “If I were you,” because one could never actually be the other person. The subjunctive is also used occasionally to make a suggestion or a demand. Here are some uses of the subjunctive:

❑ Hypothetical Situation: If we were to leave on Friday, we’d get there early.
❑ Wish: I wish I were on the morning shift.
❑ Contrary to Fact: If I were you, I would run for office.
❑ Suggestion: I suggest she take her things with her on the trip.
❑ Demand: His teacher demanded that Ed show up on time.


You’ll notice that in most of these examples, the form of the verb doesn’t seem to match the person and number of the subject—it says, “I were” instead of “I am,” “she take” in­stead of “she takes” and “Ed show” instead of “Ed shows.” There is a whole thicket full of odd-sounding constructions in the subjunctive mood, most of them used only in poetic or par­liamentary contexts. However, all you really need to know in order to navigate the subjunctive waters successfully for most occasions are two rules. Here’s the less important one first:

In the subjunctive mood, verbs in the present tense drop the “s” they normally end with in the third person. In other words, instead of I suggest she attends, it should be I suggest she attend.

The most significant rule, though, is for the verb “to be,” because that’s the verb most commonly used in the subjunctive mood today. And the rule is this:
The past tense form “was” is always replaced by “were” in the subjunctive mood, no matter what the person and number of the subject is. For example, you shouldn’t say If he was there, this wouldn’t have happened. You should say If he were there, this wouldn’t have happened.

How can you be sure you’re dealing with the subjunctive so you know whether “were” is correct? Here’s a litmus test: First, check for key words, such as “if,” “as though,” and “wish.”

They are used in all the moods but are so common in the sub­junctive that their presence in a sentence increases the odds that that’s the mood you’re dealing with. Second, ask yourself if the sentence is about an uncertainty, a wish, a suggestion, a demand, or a condition clearly contrary to fact, such as If wishes were horses then beggars would ride. If it is, you’re definitely in the subjunctive and you need to change your “wases” to “weres.”