23 Subjunctives

The Subjunctive is a verb form that refers to actions that are possibilities rather than facts.

There are some rules regarding the Subjunctives:

• Verbs are used in their basic forms, not in their tense forms (be stays like be again and the past tense is always were);
• Some certain verbs are used, for example: Demand, recommend, insist, suggest etc.;
• Some certain adjectives are used, for example: Vital, essential, important etc.;
• These are followed by a “that clause” .

• I demand that he wait on table.
• Is it vital that they be in farm?
• They insisted that you go to take care of children.

Subjunctives are used to stress urgency or importance. With Subjunctives we can show our aim and offers for the future. It is not so common and it is too formal.