Subjunctive

Subjunctive structure

be (past)	be (present)	all other verbs (past & present)
I were you were he, she, it were we were you were they were	I be you be he, she, it be we be you be they be	I work you work he, she, it work we work you work they work

Uses of Subjunctives

wants to happen	She suggested (that) I leave early. I recommend (that) you study hard. He asked (that) they be removed. I propose (that) we not go there. The President requests that you be present at the meeting. The manager insists that the car park be locked at night. The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
anticipates will happen	It is important (that) he come on time. It is vital that you be present at the meeting. It is essential that we vote as soon as possible. It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.
imagines happening	I wish I were somewhere else. If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.

Structures

Verbs before subjunctive	Expressions before subjunctive
to advise (that)	It is best (that)
to ask (that)	It is crucial (that)
to command (that)	It is desirable (that)
to demand (that)	It is essential (that)
to desire (that)	It is imperative (that)
to insist (that)	It is important (that)
to urge (that)	It is recommended (that)
to request (that)	It is urgent (that)
to suggest (that)	It is vital (that)
to request (that)	It is good idea (that)
	It is bad idea (that)

Examples

Negative Examples:

o   The boss insisted that Sam not be at the meeting.

o   The company asked that employees not accept personal phone calls during business hours.

o   I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.

Passive examples:

o   Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.

o   Christine demanded that I be allowed to take part in the negotiations.

o   We suggested that you be admitted to the organization.

Continuous Examples:

o   It is important that you be standing there when he gets off the plane.

o   It is crucial that a car be waiting for the boss when the meeting is over.

o   I propose that we all be waiting in Tim's apartment when he gets home.

Should examples:

o   The doctor recommended that she should see a specialist about the problem.

o   Professor William suggested that Wilma should study harder for the final exam.

Exercise

1. I ask that _______________ like that.

you not speak; you don't speak; you not speaking; you're not speak

2. The doctor recommended _______________ at home for a few days.

me resting; I rest; I rested; my rest

3. The president demanded that _______________ the office.

his assistant leaves; his assistant left; his assistant leave; his assistant to leave

4. I propose that _________________ our team.

she join; she joins; her joining; her join

5. The government urged that ___________________ calm.

we remain; we remaining; we remains; we remained

6. I insist that he ___________ this instant!

Leaves; leaving; leave; leaved

7. She suggested that ______________ early.

I arrive; I arrives; I am arrive; I am arrives

8. She requested _______________ patiently.

we waited; we waiting; we are wait; we wait

9. He commanded that _________________.

we listen; we are listen; we listened; our listening

10. It is important that ________________ the employment manual before starting work on Monday.

Daniel reads; Daniel read; Daniel will reads; Daniel is read

Fixed expressions

Bless you. (Which means: May God bless you.)

Be that as it may means whether that is the case or not

So be it means nothing can or will be done to change that .

Long live our gracious Queen. (The first line of the British National Anthem)

A toast now: long live the bride and groom.

I have always supported you financially, but be that as it may, I can no longer support your current lifestyle.

If I have to pretend that you no longer exist, so be it.

Homework

1. It's important that she (remember) ________ to take her medicine twice a day.

2. I suggest that Frank (read) ________ the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle. He doesn't want the wheels to fall off while he is riding down a hill

3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater (repair) _________ immediately. Her apartment was freezing.

4. It's vital that the United States (focus) __________ on improving its public education system. What we do now will affect our country for generations to come.

5. The monk insisted that the tourists (enter) ________ the temple until they had removed their shoes.

6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately (apologize) _______ for what she just said.

7. Judy asked that we (attend) _______ her graduation ceremony next week.

8. Was it really necessary that (sit) I ________ there watching you the entire time you were rehearsing for the play? It was really boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.

9. It is important to remember that Janine (think) _________ very differently from you. She may not agree to the changes you have made in the organization of the company.

10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all (drive) _______ together so that nobody gets lost along the way.

11. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) ________ to store's information desk so his parents could be paged.

12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally (reduce) _____ her daily fat intake.

13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely important that the people of the city (allow) _____ to voice their concerns over the new hotel being built on the bay.

14. She told me that the government (regulate) ______ the airline industry. I don't know if that is true.

15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (swim) _______ after eating a large meal.

16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor) _______ the summing pool while the children are taking their swimming lessons.

17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) ________ on sunblock immediately before you get a sun burn.

18. John insists that Sarah (invite) _________ to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.

19. I think it's an interesting fact that she (come) _________ from Estonia.

20. It is imperative that the world (work) ______ towards a solution to global warming before the weather patterns of the world are disrupted irreparably.