Subjunctive

The subjunctive is a grammatical mood used in some languages to express wishes, doubts, possibilities, or other non-factual states. It contrasts with the indicative, which states facts, and with the imperative, which issues commands. The form and use of the subjunctive vary by language; in many tongues it appears in subordinate clauses after expressions of desire, emotion, judgment, doubt, or necessity, and after certain conjunctions. In English, the subjunctive survives mainly in a few formal or archaic-sounding constructions.

English features two notable strands. The present subjunctive generally takes the base form of the verb in that-clauses after requests or recommendations: It is essential that she be here. The past subjunctive commonly uses were for all persons in hypothetical clauses: If I were rich. A past perfect subjunctive occurs in wishes: If only I had known. In everyday speech, many subjunctive forms have faded and would or could constructions are often substituted.

Beyond English, many languages maintain a robust subjunctive. In Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and several Slavic and Balkan languages, the mood has distinct present, past, and other tenses and governs clauses after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or necessity. Although the exact forms differ, the subjunctive consistently marks non-real or contingent events across these languages. Its history traces to the Latin subjunctive, with English retaining only a subset of its former uses.