TENSE TUESDAY: THE SUBJUNCTIVE WITH VERBS OF REQUEST
17 / 02 / 2015
TENSE TUESDAY: THE SUBJUNCTIVE WITH VERBS OF REQUEST: meaning and examples
Hello everyone and welcome back to the Daily Vitamin. Did you guess correctly on yesterday's Missing Monday? I hope you didn't "spend" (or "waste") too much time on Facebook after reading our answer!
For today's Tense Tuesday, we are looking at the SUBJUNCTIVE in English. The truth is, the subjunctive has all but disappeared in English; it is used very seldom, and many natives use it incorrectly in the few cases where it exists.
The SUBJUNCTIVE form uses the verb's simple form, the infinitive without "to". The verb does not change to agree with the subject.
We use the SUBJUNCTIVE to emphasize importance or urgency, but is only used after certain verbs and expressions.
Example 1: He suggested (that) she come to the interview early.
(COME does not change to COMES to agree with the subject SHE.)
Example 2: Maria asked (that) he drive her to the hospital.
(DRIVE does not change to DRIVES to agree with the subject HE.)
Example 3: The teacher recommended (that) we study hard for the test.
Notice that the word THAT is optional in each of these sentences.
In each of the examples, we use verbs of desire or of questioning. Other examples include words like REQUEST, COMMAND, INSIST, PROPOSE, URGE and ADVISE.
Can you give us an example of a sentence with the SUBJUNCTIVE with one of the verbs from above? If so, post it on our Facebook page. We will provide feedback for your answers.
https://www.facebook.com/ZigguratEscuelaCorporativadeIdiomas
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow for Wordy Wednesday!
For today's Tense Tuesday, we are looking at the SUBJUNCTIVE in English. The truth is, the subjunctive has all but disappeared in English; it is used very seldom, and many natives use it incorrectly in the few cases where it exists.
The SUBJUNCTIVE form uses the verb's simple form, the infinitive without "to". The verb does not change to agree with the subject.
We use the SUBJUNCTIVE to emphasize importance or urgency, but is only used after certain verbs and expressions.
Example 1: He suggested (that) she come to the interview early.
(COME does not change to COMES to agree with the subject SHE.)
Example 2: Maria asked (that) he drive her to the hospital.
(DRIVE does not change to DRIVES to agree with the subject HE.)
Example 3: The teacher recommended (that) we study hard for the test.
Notice that the word THAT is optional in each of these sentences.
In each of the examples, we use verbs of desire or of questioning. Other examples include words like REQUEST, COMMAND, INSIST, PROPOSE, URGE and ADVISE.
Can you give us an example of a sentence with the SUBJUNCTIVE with one of the verbs from above? If so, post it on our Facebook page. We will provide feedback for your answers.
https://www.facebook.com/ZigguratEscuelaCorporativadeIdiomas
Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow for Wordy Wednesday!
