Subjunctive mood facts for kids

The subjunctive is a special way verbs can be used in a sentence. It shows how the speaker feels about something, like a wish, an emotion, a possibility, or something that hasn't happened yet. Think of it as talking about things that aren't necessarily real or factual.

The subjunctive is different from the indicative mood, which is used for statements of fact. You'll often find the subjunctive in sentences where you suggest something, like "I suggest that you be careful," or when you say something is important, like "It is important that she stay by your side."

What is the Subjunctive Mood?

The subjunctive mood is a way to express ideas that are not facts. These can be wishes, hopes, doubts, or things that are not certain to happen. It's like saying "what if" or "I wish."

Subjunctive vs. Indicative Mood

The main difference is about reality.

• The indicative mood talks about things that are real or factual. For example, "She is happy." This is a fact.
• The subjunctive mood talks about things that are not real, or are wishes, possibilities, or commands. For example, "I wish she were happy." This is a wish, not a fact.

How Languages Use the Subjunctive

Many languages around the world use the subjunctive mood. How they use it can be a bit different from one language to another.

Indo-European Languages and the Subjunctive

Long ago, the ancestor of many European and Indian languages, called Proto-Indo-European language, had two similar moods: the subjunctive and the optative mood. The optative was used for wishes. Over time, many languages combined these two moods.

English Subjunctive

In Modern English, the subjunctive often looks like the basic form of the verb. It doesn't always have a special ending.

• For example, in "I suggest that you be careful," the verb be is in the subjunctive.
• Another example is "It is important that she stay by your side." Here, stay is the subjunctive form.

German Subjunctive

German has two main subjunctive forms: Konjunktiv I (present subjunctive) and Konjunktiv II (past subjunctive). Both can be used for past or present time.

Konjunktiv I (Present Subjunctive)

This form is often used in formal writing or when reporting what someone said. It shows that you are just repeating words, not saying if they are true.

• Example: Er sagte, er sei Arzt. (He said he was a doctor.) This means he said it, but you're not saying if he really is a doctor.
• It's formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. The verb sein (to be) is a bit different.

Konjunktiv II (Past Subjunctive)

The Konjunktiv II is used for things that are not real or are wishes. It's also used to form conditional sentences, like "I would help."

• Example: An deiner Stelle würde ich ihm nicht helfen. (I would not help him if I were you.)
• This form often adds an umlaut (two dots over a vowel) to the verb's stem if possible. For example, ich war (I was) becomes ich wäre (I would be).

Dutch Subjunctive

Dutch also has subjunctive forms, similar to German, but they are not used as much in everyday talk. You'll mostly find them in old sayings or formal phrases.

• Example: Mogen zij in vrede rusten. (May they rest in peace.)
• Example: Leve de koning! (Long live the king!)

Latin and Romance Languages Subjunctive

The Latin language, which is the ancestor of many languages like French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, had many uses for the subjunctive. It was used for commands, wishes, possibilities, and in different types of clauses.

The subjunctive in these languages comes from Latin. They often use it in similar ways to English, but also in other situations.

• For example, to say "Let it snow," French uses the subjunctive: Qu'il neige.

French Subjunctive

In French, the subjunctive is mostly used with verbs that show desire, doubt, or possibility. It's almost always used after the word que (that).

• Example: Il faut qu’il comprenne cela. (It is necessary that he understand that.)
• Example: Vive la république! (Long live the republic!)

French also has a past subjunctive, which is used for actions that happened in the past but are still part of a wish or doubt.

• Example: Il est important qu'elle ait parlé. (It is important that she have spoken.)

Italian Subjunctive

The Italian subjunctive (congiuntivo) is used a lot, especially after words that express doubt, possibility, opinion, or desire.

• Example: (Io) credo (che) (ella/lei) sia la migliore. (I believe (that) she is the best.)
• Example: Viva la repubblica! (Long live the republic!)

Italian also has an imperfect subjunctive, which is used for past actions that are wishes or possibilities.

• Example: Sembrava che Elsa non venisse. (It seemed that Elsa was not coming.)
• It's also used in "if" clauses: Se avessi molti soldi, comprerei tante macchine. (If I had a lot of money, I would buy many cars.)

Spanish Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood (subjuntivo) is very important in Spanish. It's used much more than in some other languages. It's used for emotions, opinions, desires, and especially for things that are not certain or are hypothetical.

• Example: Ojalá que me compren un regalo. (I hope that they will buy me a gift.)
• Example: Te recomiendo que no corras con tijeras. (I recommend that you not run with scissors.)

Spanish has two forms for the past (imperfect) subjunctive, ending in -se or -ra. Both are usually interchangeable.

• Example: Si yo fuera/fuese el maestro, no mandaría demasiados deberes. (If I were the teacher, I would not give too much homework.)

Portuguese Subjunctive

In Portuguese, the subjunctive (subjuntivo or conjuntivo) is used for situations that are doubtful, imaginary, or required. It can also show emotion or a wish.

• Example: Faça-se luz! (Let there be light!)
• Example: Viva o rei! (Long live the king!)

Portuguese is special because it kept a "future subjunctive" form from older times. This form is used for conditions that need to happen in the future before another event can occur.

• Example: Se for eleito presidente, mudarei a lei. (If I am elected president, I will change the law.)

Romanian Subjunctive

Romanian uses the subjunctive (conjunctiv) a lot. It always includes the word să before the verb. It has a past and a present tense.

• Example: Să plec? (Should I leave?)
• Example: Să mergem! (Let us go!)

The past subjunctive is used for regrets about past actions.

• Example: Să fi rămas acasă. (We should have stayed at home.)

Celtic Languages and the Subjunctive

Welsh Subjunctive

In Welsh, there are present and imperfect subjunctive forms. The present subjunctive is not used much in spoken Welsh, except in set phrases. It's more common in older, formal writing.

• Example: Pan fo angen. (When need be.)
• Example: Mae'n amser yr elwyf. (It is time that I go.)

The imperfect subjunctive in Welsh only affects the verb bod (to be). It's used with "if" statements.

• Example: Pe bawn i'n gyfoethog, teithiwn i trwy'r byd. (If I were rich, I would travel throughout the world.)

Scottish Gaelic Subjunctive

In Scottish Gaelic, the subjunctive exists but often looks like other verb forms. The present subjunctive looks like the future indicative, and the imperfect subjunctive looks like the imperfect indicative. It's used in proverbs or when making a wish.

• Example: Gum bi Rìgh Ruisiart beò fada! (Long live King Richard!)
• Example: Se àm gum fàg e a-nis. (It is time that he leave now.)

Irish Subjunctive

In the Irish language, the subjunctive is used for wishes and appears in many blessings and old sayings. It's considered a bit old-fashioned for daily talk but is still seen in books.

• Example: Go dté tú slán. (May you be well.)
• Example: Go dtuga Dia ciall duit. (May God give you sense.)

The Irish phrase for "thank you" – go raibh maith agat – actually uses the subjunctive and means "may there be good at-you."

Semitic Languages and the Subjunctive

Arabic Subjunctive

In Arabic, the subjunctive form of a verb is called the manṣūb form. It's different from the usual verb form in most cases.

• Example: urīdu an aktuba. (I want to write.)

Hebrew Subjunctive

In Hebrew, the old subjunctive forms have mostly disappeared. Instead, the future tense is often used for subjunctive meanings, sometimes with the particle she- (that).

• Example: Sheyavo. (Let him come or May he come.)
• Example: Ani rotzeh sheyavo. (I want him to come.)

Some old subjunctive forms still exist in formal or literary language.

• Example: Y'khi ha-melekh. (Long live the king.)

Uralic Languages and the Subjunctive

Hungarian Subjunctive

In Hungarian, this mood is used for polite requests and suggestions. It's often called the conjunctive-imperative mood.

• Example: Add nekem! (Give it to me.)
• Example: Menjünk! (Let's go.)
• Example: Menjek? (Shall I go?)

It's also used when talking about other people's demands.

• Example: kérte, hogy menjek. (He asked that I go.)

Turkic Languages and the Subjunctive

Turkish Subjunctive

In Turkish, there isn't one single "subjunctive mood" like in some other languages. Instead, its meaning is covered by several different moods:

• Imperative mood: For commands. Example: siz gelin (Let you come).
• Necessitative mood: For things that must happen. Example: Benim gelmem gerek (I must come).
• Optative mood: For suggested actions or desires. Example: gideyim (Let me go).
• Desiderative mood: For wishes. Example: Keşke burada olaydı (I wish he were here).
• Conditional mood: For "if" statements. Example: Çalışırsa kazanır (If he works, he wins).

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