# The Subjunctive

https://langs123.com/en/english/sentence-building/subjunctive/
CEFR C1–C2 · 2026-10-19 · CC BY 4.0, langs123 contributors (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

> The base verb after demands and recommendations, were for unreal situations, and fixed formulas such as so be it. Demands take the base verb in the that clause, with no -s and no tense: I insist that she go. It is vital that he be told.

## Cheatsheet

| Point | Rule | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Form | that + subject + base verb; one form for every person | The school insists that he wear a tie. |
| Negative and passive | not goes before the verb; the passive is be + past participle | I suggest that he not go. / It is vital that it be checked. |
| After verbs | suggest, recommend, insist, demand, require and request call for it | The doctor recommends that she rest more. |
| After adjectives and nouns | essential, vital, important and necessary; nouns such as requirement and proposal | It is essential that everyone be on time. |
| British and American | American English prefers the bare verb; British English often adds should | We recommend that she should apply. (US: apply) |
| Were | were follows every subject after if, as if and wish | I wish it were Friday. |
| Lest | lest is formal and takes the base verb or should | She whispered lest the baby wake. |
| Fixed formulas | old formulas keep the bare verb and are quoted whole | I'll be there, come what may. / Suffice it to say that we lost. |
| Be-clauses | be opens a formal concession with two alternatives | Be it large or small, every gift helps. |
| Formal texts | orders, resolutions and motions keep the bare verb | I move that the minutes be approved. |
| Proverbs | short sayings keep an older order and the bare verb | Waste not, want not. |
| Trap | suggest takes a that clause or -ing | I suggest that he go. / I suggest going early. |

## Overview

- The subjunctive is the bare base verb, the same for every person and every time. The board asks that every member vote.
- It names what is wanted, needed, proposed or imagined.
- Formal writing and speech use it most; everyday speech often chooses should or an ordinary verb.
- It survives in fixed formulas, be-clauses, legal language and proverbs, which speakers quote whole.

## Form: the base verb

| Subject | Subjunctive | Ordinary verb |
| --- | --- | --- |
| I | that I be | that I am |
| he, she, it | that she be | that she is |
| we, you, they | that they be | that they are |
| he, she, it with other verbs | that she stop | that she stops |

| Form | Pattern | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Statement | that + subject + base verb | I insist that she go home. |
| Negative | that + subject + not + base verb | I suggest that he not go. |
| Passive | that + subject + be + past participle | It is vital that the form be signed. |

- The main verb may be in any tense; the verb in the that clause stays in the base form: He insists that she go. / He insisted that she go.
- Passive forms are in Passive Voice.

## Use: demands and recommendations

| Use | Example |
| --- | --- |
| A demand or an order: demand, insist, require, order, stipulate | The law requires that every driver carry a licence. / She insisted that he apologise. |
| A request or an appeal: ask, request, urge | They asked that the meeting be moved to Friday. / I urge that you reconsider. |
| A suggestion or advice: suggest, recommend, propose, advise | I recommend that she see a specialist. / He proposed that we meet earlier. |
| A need after it is + adjective + that: essential, vital, important, necessary, desirable | It is essential that everyone be on time. / It is desirable that the report be short. |
| A demand named by a noun: requirement, recommendation, proposal, request, insistence | Her request that the date be changed was refused. / The proposal that he step down was rejected. |

- that is optional after the verbs: I recommend (that) you wait.
- Reported demands and requests are in Reported Speech.

## Compare: British and American choices

| Point | that he go | that he should go | that he goes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Style | formal British; the usual American choice | the usual British choice | informal British |
| Example | The school demands that he wear a tie. | The school demands that he should wear a tie. | The school demands that he wears a tie. |
| Negative | I suggest that he not go. | I suggest that he should not go. | I suggest that he doesn't go. |

- British should also follows odd and strange, as a comment on a fact: see Should.

## Compare: suggest with a clause and with -ing

| Point | suggest that he go | suggest going | suggest his going |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Who acts | another person | the speaker too, or anyone | another person |
| Style | neutral or formal | neutral; the usual choice | formal; rare in speech |
| Example | I suggest that he go early. | I suggest going early. | I suggest his going early. |

## Compare: a demand and a statement

| Point | Demand | Statement |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Meaning | what the subject wants or advises | what the speaker reports or shows |
| Verb | the base verb | an ordinary tense |
| insist | He insisted that she apologise. | He insisted that she had apologised. |
| suggest | I suggest that she go. | Her smile suggests that she is happy. |

## Use: were

| Use | Example |
| --- | --- |
| An unreal present after if | If she were here, she would help. |
| A comparison with as if and as though | He talks as if he were the manager. |
| An unreal wish with wish and if only | I wish it were Friday. / If only he were here! |

- Only be has a separate unreal form, were; other verbs use the past tense. I wish I were taller. / I wish I knew the answer.
- Speech often puts was for were after I, he, she and it; formal writing keeps were. If it were mine, I would sell it. / If it was mine, I'd sell it.
- Wishes with the other unreal tenses are in Wishes and Unreal Tenses.
- More conditionals with if are in Conditionals.

## Use: lest, fear and caution

| Use | Example |
| --- | --- |
| A danger to avoid: lest + subject + base verb | She spoke quietly lest she wake the baby. / Write it down lest you forget. |
| The British form with should: lest + subject + should + base verb | He wrote it down lest he should forget. |
| for fear that with should, would or might | She hid the letter for fear that he should read it. / He whispered for fear that someone might hear him. |
| A precaution against a chance event: in case with should | Take a coat in case it should rain. |

- lest carries the negative itself, so its clause has no not.
- Everyday speech says in case it rains and so that you don't forget.

## Fixed formulas: wishes and reactions

| Formula | Meaning | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| God save the King | a wish for a ruler's long life | “God save the King!” shouted the crowd. |
| Long live + noun | a cheer for a person, a group or an idea | “Long live the champions!” they cried. |
| So be it | I accept it, though I may not like it | If you won't change your mind, so be it. |
| Heaven forbid | I hope it never happens | If he fails, heaven forbid, we start again. |
| Perish the thought | I reject the idea | Me, late for my own wedding? Perish the thought! |

- Each formula keeps the bare verb with any subject: God save the King, with no -s.

## Fixed formulas: framing a statement

| Formula | Meaning | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Be that as it may | even if that is true, I go on | Be that as it may, we still have to decide. |
| Come what may | whatever happens | I'll support you, come what may. |
| Far be it from me to… | a polite opening before advice or criticism | Far be it from me to interfere, but the sign says no parking. |
| Suffice it to say | I will give only the main point | Suffice it to say that we were not impressed. |
| If need be | if it is necessary | We'll work on Sunday if need be. |
| as it were | so to speak, softening an unusual word | She is, as it were, the heart of the team. |

## Be-clauses and would that

| Use | Example |
| --- | --- |
| Two alternatives, and either one holds: Be + subject + adjective + or + adjective | Be it large or small, every gift helps. / Be he rich or poor, he pays the same fee. |
| The same in a whether clause | The match will go ahead, whether it be rain or snow. |
| A formal concession with though | The gift, though it be small, was welcome. |
| A wish that cannot come true: Would that | Would that he were here. |

- In a be-clause the subject follows be: be it, be he, be they.
- Speech and plain writing say whether it is large or small.

## Formal, legal and meeting language

| Use | Example |
| --- | --- |
| A court order | It is ordered that the defendant appear in person. |
| A resolution in minutes | Resolved that the meeting be adjourned. |
| A motion in a meeting | I move that the minutes be approved. |
| A contract or a regulation | The lease stipulates that the tenant give one month's notice. |

- Formal documents keep the bare verb in British and American English alike.
- The verb stays in the base form when the main verb is in the past: The court ordered that the defendant appear in person.

## Proverbs and inherited forms

| Saying | Meaning | Example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Waste not, want not | save what you have and you will not go without | Keep the leftovers: waste not, want not. |
| Least said, soonest mended | the less said about a quarrel, the sooner it is forgotten | Don't mention it again: least said, soonest mended. |
| Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home | however modest, home is best | Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. |
| Long may + subject + base verb | a wish that something lasts | Long may our friendship last. |

- Speakers quote these sayings whole; new sentences take the ordinary word order.
- More wishes with may are in May and Might.

## Typical errors

| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
| --- | --- | --- |
| I suggest him to go. | I suggest that he go. | suggest takes a that clause for another person's action |
| He suggested to take a taxi. | He suggested taking a taxi. | suggest takes -ing when the speaker is among the doers |
| They demand that he will pay. | They demand that he pay. | the clause after a demand takes the base verb alone |
| She spoke quietly lest she did not wake the baby. | She spoke quietly lest she wake the baby. | lest carries the negative, so its clause has no not |
| Far be it for me to criticise. | Far be it from me to criticise. | the formula is far be it from me to |
| God saves the King. | God save the King. | the formula keeps the bare verb |
| I move that the motion is carried. | I move that the motion be carried. | a motion takes the base verb be |