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Using the Subjunctive for Hopes and Wishes

We use the subjunctive mood to talk about imagined situations.

Hopes and wishes

Hopes and wishes

  • We use the subjunctive mood to talk about imagined situations.
  • So we can use the subjunctive to show hopes and wishes.
Use 'if' and 'were'

Use 'if' and 'were'

  • To create an imagined situation, we need to make a clause using 'if' and 'were'.
    • If I were rich...
    • If I were a princess...
Add  'would', 'could', or 'might'

Add 'would', 'could', or 'might'

  • Now, we need to show what would happen in these imagined situations.
  • We do this by adding a clause containing 'would', 'could' or 'might'.
    • If it were to snow, I might get the day off school!
Examples

Examples

  • If I were a princess, I would ride a dragon.
  • If I were rich, I could buy a sports car.
Jump to other topics
1

Reading

1.1

Reading

1.2

Prefixes

1.3

Suffixes

1.4

Spelling Rules

1.5

Reading Comprehension

1.6

Reading Comprehension: SAT Practise

1.7

Word Meaning

1.8

Fact vs. Opinion

1.9

Justifying Views

1.10

Figurative Language

1.11

Text Structure

2

Writing

2.1

Sounds in Words

2.2

Homophones

2.3

Using a Dictionary

2.4

Writing Composition

2.5

The Subjunctive Mood

2.6

Modal Verbs

2.7

Active & Passive Voice

2.8

Relative Clauses

2.9

Expanded Nouns

2.10

Punctuation

2.11

SAT Spelling Practise

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