3. 1.
Conditions may be implied by
using but for, if not, if so,
otherwise, with, without, etc.
Your brother may be lonely. If so,
he should join a singles’ group =
If he is lonely, he should join a
singles’ group.
4. 1.
In a sentence with an implied
condition, there is no change in
the result clause.
Mary needs to be part of the
decision. Otherwise, she’ll never
be happy =
If Mary isn’t part of the decision,
she’ll never be happy.
5. 1.
As with other conditional
sentences, the condition may
precede or follow the result
clause.
With a little extra
communication, you can solve the
problem.
You can solve the problem with a
little extra communication.
6. 2.
Unreal conditions with had (past
perfect), should and were are
sometimes expressed by deleting if and
inverting the subject and the verb.
If I had known he was lazy, I wouldn’t
have roomed with him.
Had I known he was lazy, I wouldn’t
have roomed with him.
7. 2.
If there is an inverted condition, there
is no change in the result clause.
If I were to accept the job, I would
insist on benefits.
Were I to accept the job, I would insist
on benefits.
8. 2.
As with other conditional sentences,
the inverted condition clause can
precede or follow the result clause.
If I were to move, I’d have to get a new
roommate = Were I to move, I’d have to
get a new roommate.
I’d have to get a new roommate if I
were to move = I’d have to get a new
roommate were I to move.
9. 2.
Note: Inverted conditional sentences
with should imply that an action or event
is unlikely to happen. The meaning of
should in this type of sentence is much
different from its usual meaning.
Should something go wrong, we need
a backup plan. ( = It is unlikely that
something will go wrong, but we need to
be prepared.)
10. 2.
Be Careful! Negative inversion is
formed by adding not after the inverted
verb and subject. Don’t contract not and
the verb.
Had I not received the phone call, I
wouldn’t have been able to help.
**Hadn’t I received the phone call, I
wouldn’t have been able to help.
11. Let’s stop and review the subjunctive:
Present subjunctive
of most verbs =
base form
Past subjunctive of
most verbs looks
like the simple past
I go
He go
She go
It go
We go
You go
They go
I went
He went
She went
It went
We went
You went
They went
12. Let’s stop and review the subjunctive:
Present subjunctive
of the verb to be =
base form
Past subjunctive of
the verb to be =
were
I be
He be
She be
It be
We be
You be
They be
I were
He were
She were
It were
We were
You were
They were
13. 3.
The subjunctive is somewhat
uncommon in English. However, one
common example is the use of past
subjunctive were in unreal conditions.
If I were you, I’d visit my parents more
often.
We could go on a picnic if it weren’t
raining.
14. 3.
Be careful! This use of were occurs
only present unreal conditions. It is not
used for past situations (even though it
looks like the past tense).
If I were there, I would help her.
** If I were there, I would have helped
her.
Correct: If I had been there, I would
have helped her.
15. 4.
The present subjective, or base form of the
verb, is used in noun clauses following certain
verbs:
We recommend (that) he see a lawyer.
16. 4.
Be careful! The main verb in a noun clause
can be past, present, or future. However, the
subjunctive verb in the following noun clause
is the base form.
We recommended (that) he sell his house.
** We recommended (that) he sold his house.
17. 4.
Form the negative of a subjunctive verb by
placing not before the base form.
My aunt and uncle insisted (that) we not
come to visit them today.
18. 4.
To form a passive subjunctive, use be + the
past participle.
The doctor recommends (that) Uncle John be
hospitalized.
19. 4.
Note: In noun clauses with subjunctive
constructions, we can usually omit the word
that.
20. 5.
The subjunctive with the base form of the
verb is used in noun clauses following verbs
of advice, necessity and urgency, such as
demand, insist, propose, recommend and
suggest.
I propose (that) we ask Mom and Dad about
their wishes.
My parents insisted (that) I come to visit
them often.
21. 5.
Be careful! We do not use infinitives after
these verbs.
He suggested (that) we talk.
**He suggested (that) we to talk.
22. 5.
Note that insist (on), propose, recommend,
and suggest can also be followed with a
gerund phrase. The meaning of this structure
is similar to the meaning of the sentence with
a subjunctive in the noun clause.
We insist on getting another bid for the job.
We propose getting another bid for the job.
We suggest getting another bid for the job.
23. 5.
Note that verbs ask, order, require, urge, etc. may
also occur in the pattern verb + object + infinitive.
When they are used in subjunctive constructions, the
word that is usually not omitted.
I asked that my brothers and sisters be present.
I asked my brothers and sisters to be present.
*Your book does not mention that these two
sentences do not mean exactly the same thing.
24. 6.
The subjunctive is also used after adjectives of
advice, necessity, and urgency, such as advisable,
crucial, desirable, essential, important, mandatory,
necessary and urgent. Subjunctive verbs after
adjectives of urgency, necessity and advice occur in
the pattern It + be + adjective + that clause. We do
not usually omit the word that in this type of clause.
It is essential that elderly people be treated with
dignity.
It is important that she understand her options.
It was necessary that my brother see a lawyer.
25. 6.
Note: The pattern shown in the previous slide can be
replaced with It + be + adjective + for + noun or object
pronoun + infinitive, which is more informal.
It is important for her to understand her options = It
is important that she understand her options.
It was necessary for my brother to see a lawyer = It
was necessary that my brother see a lawyer.
26. Reference note
For a list of verbs and phrases
followed by the subjunctive, see
Appendix 24 on page A-10.
