If I were a morning person, I would be able to get in an exercise routine before my kids get up and go to school. (I suppose you could say I am partially a morning person, but I just have a bad habit of procrastinating.) I am expressing this wish to rise early in a sentence form known as the subjunctive mood, which is often misunderstood.

How Does Mood Shape Language?

Mood in the English language helps to determine the type of verb that is used in a sentence. The mood of a sentence tells you if the sentence is a command, a question or a wish. There are three main moods in grammar:

• Indicative Mood – a statement of fact or a question
• Imperative Mood – a command or request
• Subjunctive Mood – a wish or suggestion

How To Create the Subjunctive Mood

Subjunctive verbs are used with the subjunctive mood, which is used when you express something that is a wish or a suggestion that is not necessarily a reality. Creating the subjunctive mood is a simple matter. Here are some subjunctive mood examples:

1. “Is” becomes “be”

They recommended he be allowed on the team.

2. “Was” becomes “were”

If I were a millionaire, I would travel the world.

3. Third-person present verbs lose the “s”

It is essential that Jane work this weekend.

By themselves, “he be allowed,” “I were a millionaire” and “Jane work this weekend” are not grammatically correct. It is only in the subjunctive mood that the sentences undergo these changes to express a wish, suggestion or condition different from fact.

The Difficulty in Identifying Subjunctive Verbs

When considering the subjunctive mood, it is sometimes difficult to identify the subjunctive verb from other verb forms:

• You were here yesterday.
• I wish you were here yesterday.

Both sentences use the verb “were” but have different meanings. The first sentence is a statement of fact indicating that you were here yesterday. The second sentence expresses a desire that you were here yesterday, implying that you weren’t.

Common Subjunctive Verbs

There are many verbs that tend to attract a subjunctive construction. Here are the most common subjunctive mood verbs:

Advise	Propose
Ask	Recommend
Command	Request
Demand	Suggest
Desire	Urge
Insist	Wish

Examples:

• I ask that you please refrain from spitting those peanut shells on my grass.
• Laura insisted that Amber visit her in Utah.

The subjunctive mood is also used after certain phrases that follow this structure: “it is _____ that.” If you fill in the blank with one of the following terms, you need to use a subjunctive verb:

A bad idea	Essential
A good idea	Important
Best	Vital
Crucial	Urgent

Examples:

• It is important that you be on time for the wedding.
• It is essential that Dawn wash her feet before stomping the grapes.

Subjunctive Mood Is Not Necessarily Subjective

Mastering the subjunctive mood is important if you’re serious about becoming a professional writer. Luckily, constructing a sentence using subjunctive verbs is fairly straightforward when you follow these guidelines.

What are your useful tips for determining if a verb should be used in the subjunctive form? Share your thoughts in the comments!