Grammar: ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: 🎭 Modals & 🌱 Non-Finite Verbs (Advanced) (B2) - Lesson 5: The Subjunctive Mood (Formal recommendations, demands, hypotheses: It is vital that he attend.)

✨ Lesson 5: The Subjunctive Mood

Today, we are learning about a special verb form called the Subjunctive Mood¹. The subjunctive is not used for facts; it's used to talk about things that are not real, such as a demand², a recommendation³, a hypothesis⁴, or a wish. It is most common in formal English, especially in writing.

The Present Subjunctive: The "Base Form" Rule

The present subjunctive is formed using the base form⁵ of the verb (the infinitive without 'to'). The most important rule is that this verb form never changes, even for subjects like 'he', 'she', or 'it'. This structure is triggered by certain verbs and adjective phrases.

Structure: Trigger Word + that + Subject + Base Form Verb

Common Trigger Verbs: suggest, recommend, demand, insist, request, propose.

• "The manager insists that every employee be on time." (not 'is')
• "I recommend that he apply for the job." (not 'applies')

---

Common Trigger Adjectives: It is vital, essential, important, necessary, crucial.

• "It is essential that she attend the meeting tomorrow." (not 'attends')
• "It is necessary that a valid passport be shown at the border." (passive form)

The Past Subjunctive (A Quick Review)

You have already been using the past subjunctive without knowing its name! It is used in unreal conditionals and wishes to talk about the present. The most common example is using 'were' instead of 'was'.

Second Conditional: "If I were you, I would take the job."

Wishes: "I wish I were on holiday right now."

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

1. The doctor recommended that he _______ more rest. (gets / get)
   Answer: get (After 'recommended that...', we use the base form.)
2. It is important that every student _______ their best. (try / tries)
   Answer: try
3. The new company policy requires that all staff _______ a uniform. (wear / wears)
   Answer: wear
4. If only I _______ richer! (was / were)
   Answer: were (This is the past subjunctive for a present wish.)
5. The professor insisted that the essay _______ handed in by Friday. (be / is)
   Answer: be (This is a passive subjunctive: 'that the essay be handed in'.)

📝 Homework: Formal Sentences

Rewrite these simple ideas as more formal sentences using the subjunctive and the trigger phrase in brackets.

1. Idea: Everyone should arrive on time. (It is crucial that...)
   Answer: It is crucial that everyone arrive on time.
2. Idea: He needs to finish the report today. (The manager insists that...)
   Answer: The manager insists that he finish the report today.
3. Idea: She should consider our proposal. (We suggest that...)
   Answer: We suggest that she consider our proposal.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Subjunctive Mood: (Noun Phrase) - ទម្រង់មិនពិត (tŭm'rɔng mĭn pĭt) - A verb form used to talk about unreal situations like wishes, proposals, or demands, rather than facts. ↩
2. Demand: (Noun/Verb) - ការទាមទារ (kaa téam'téar) - A strong or insistent request. ↩
3. Recommendation: (Noun) - ការណែនាំ (kaa nae'noam) - A suggestion that something is good or suitable for a particular purpose. ↩
4. Hypothesis: (Noun) - សម្មតិកម្ម (sâm'mâ'tĭ'kâm) - An idea or explanation for something that is based on a few known facts but has not yet been proven to be true. ↩
5. Base Form: (Noun Phrase) - ទម្រង់ដើម (tŭm'rɔng daem) - The simplest form of a verb, without any endings (e.g., go, be, have). ↩