Subjunctive Verbs
English Language: KS3, topic 3.7.1
Subjunctive Verbs
We use the subjunctive to express an imagined, wished or doubtful state.
Imagined states
- ‘If I win the race, I’ll be rich.’
- The race hasn’t happened yet.
- There is only a possibility that the person will win the race.
- Winning the race is an imagined state of being.
State of hope
- ‘I hope we win the race.’
- The person hasn't won the race.
- The person hopes to win the race.
- Somone hoping to win the race is a wished state of being.
State of doubt
- ‘I doubt they’ll win.’
- The person is unsure they will win the race.
- The sentence signifies doubt.
Test yourself on Subjunctive Verbs
What states do we express using subjunctive verbs?
What is true about the phrase, 'If you won the game, you'd go down in history'?
What is true about the phrase, 'He wished he could join his friends'?