1. Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is used to express importance, urgency, recommendations, requirements, suggestions, wishes, or desires.
The subjunctive mood is used to express actions, conditions or situations that are unreal, imaginary, or hypothetical.
The subjunctive is usually found in complex sentences.

2. Placing Verbs in the Subjunctive Mood
The verb in the main clause may be in any tense.
The verb in the subordinate clause must be placed in the present plural tense or its base form.
He wished that he could speak English fluently.
My father hopes that I go to college.
Past Tense
Main Clause
Present Tense
Subordinate Clause
Main Clause
Subordinate Clause

3. Subjunctive Rule 1
The subjunctive is usually used with “that” when expressing recommendations, requirements, suggestions, importance, or urgency.
Examples:
My counselor recommends that I turn in all my late work.
The school required all students wear identification badges.
My teacher suggested I study for tomorrow’s test.
It is important that you take cover during a tornado.
It is urgent that Scott go to the hospital.

4. Exercise One: Place the verbs in the following sentences to express the subjunctive mood.
I am recommending that Mrs. Robinson ___________(stay) home until after her baby is born.
The principal requested that Mrs. Robinson ___________ (return) to school in January.
It is important that you ___________ (respect) Mrs. Robinson’s decision.
stay
return
respect

5. Subjunctive Rule 2
Remember that the word “that” can be implied (or invisible).
Our teacher insists we do our homework.
This sentence is really the same as:
Our teacher insists that we do our homework.
Examples
It is urgent we evacuate during a fire.
I suggest you wear a raincoat today.

6. I suggested they ___________ (take) the scenic route.
Exercise Two: Place the verbs in the following sentences to express the subjunctive mood.
I suggested they ___________ (take) the scenic route.
Colleges recommend students ___________ (prepare) in high school for its rigorous courses.
It is urgent you ___________ (see) your grandmother in the hospital.
take
prepare
see

7. Subjunctive Rule 3 Be is the base form of the verb to be.
Use the subjunctive be not is or are in clauses beginning with that to express a recommendation or a requirement.
Examples
Scott recommends that the movers be at his office by 10:00 A.M.
The police officer insisted that criminal be placed in handcuffs.

8. The book suggests that people ___________ (are/be) open to compromise.
Exercise Three: Place the verbs in the following sentences to express the subjunctive mood.
The production recommended that I ___________ (be, am) accessible to them.
The book suggests that people ___________ (are/be) open to compromise.
The human resource manager recommends that the employees ___________ (are/be) on time for their shift. be be be

9. Subjunctive Rule 4
Use the subjunctive were to express an unfulfilled wish, or in a comparison to an imaginary situation after the words “if,” “if only.” “as though,” and “as if.”
Examples:
I wish I were in Paris last week.
Shelly wore pair of high heels as if she were a fashion model.
If I were taller, I could reach the top shelf.
Jacob acts as though he were a wild animal.
IMPORTANT: This example is actually in the Conditional Mood, but uses were.

10. Exercise Four: Place the verbs in the following sentences to express the subjunctive mood.
Tevis wishes his partner Josh ___________ (was, were) there to help with the decision.
Jennifer acts as though she ___________ (was, were) the queen of England.
If I ___________ (was, were) faster, I would have been mistaken for a cheetah.
If only I ___________ (was/were) at the dance, I could have danced with Scott.
were
were
were
were

11. Exercise Five: Place the verbs in the following sentences to express the subjunctive mood. You will need to apply all four subjunctive rules in this practice.
were
I wish I ___________ (be) in charge of the department; I’d do things differently.
The owners requested that the manager ___________ (open) a half hour early during the holiday shopping season.
It is important that you ___________ (be) available to work late.
She acted as if she ___________ (be) a lawyer, asking lots of questions.
It is necessary that a designer ___________ (project) an air of confidence.
open be
were
project