subjunctive

Ngoc Phuong - THCS Dong Tan
Part I: The past subjunctive
* The past subjunctive is the form which is not true at present and in the past. It appears in:
1. The conditional type II and type III
- Type II: If the Earth were an apple, I would eat it.
- Type III: If it hadnt rained yesterday, I would have gone a pinic.
2. The structure: Đã đến lúc .
Its time
Its high time S + V(past subjunctive) (be = were)
Its about time .
Ex: Its high time we worked harder: Đã đến lúc chúng ta cần làm việc chăm chỉ hơn
3. The structure: as if/ as though: nh thể là
a) S + V(present simple) + as if/ as though + S + V(past subjunctive) (be = were)
Use: not true in the present (She loves me as if/ as though she were my mother)
b) S + V(past simple) + as if/ as though + S + V(past perfect)
Use: not true in the past (She talked as if/ as though she had known I was ill.)
Notes: So sánh: as if (though) và seem (appear)
Các từ trên đều biểu thị: dờng nh, có vẻ nh ng có sự khác nhau
+) seem và appear: là kể về sự thực hoặc gần nh sự thực -> dùng dạng câu bình thờng.
+) as if và as though: trên thực tế là không phảI mà chỉ là ta nh
Trong trờng hợp as if(though) gặp phải it seems thi ta có thể dùng nh seem để
biểu thị có khả năng là sự thực: There are black clouds in the sky, It looks as if its going to rain.
4. The structure: would rather: ai đó thích ai đó làm gì hơn.
S + would rather + S + V(past subjunctive) (be = were)
(eg: I would rather you stayed at home)
5. The structure: wishes: ớc
a) wishes for future and present:
S + wish(es) (that) + S + V(past subjunctive) (be = were)
Ex: - I dont live in Ho Chi Ming city now -> I wish (that) I lived in Ho Chi Minh city now.
- I cant play the piano -> I wish I could play the piano.
Notes: S + wish(es) + S + would + V(inf) in the following cases:

- Have a future adverb: tomorrow, next week/ month ..
Ex: He will not visit me tomorrow -> I wish he would visit me tomorrow
- Talk about the weather: dissatisfied with the weather and expect it to change.
Ex: Its raining now -> I wish it would stop raining.
- Dissatisfied with ones character, expect them to change.
Ex: Lan always goes to school late -> I wish Lan wouldnt go to school late.
b) wishes for the past (not true in the past)
S + wish + (that) + S + V(past perfect)
Ex: I didnt know you were ill -> I wish I had known you were ill.
Notes: if only = I wish/ we wish (ex: if only you were here now)
Part II: subjunctive sentences
* Là hình thức dùng động từ nguyên thể khi động từ đó đứng sau một số động từ và tính từ
nhất định để chỉ ai đó muốn ai đó làm gì. Trong câu bắt buộc phải có that
1. S + V(any tenses) + that + S + (should) + V(inf)
(demand = require = request, advise = recommend, ask, suggest, urge, insist (nài nỉ), order,
propose, prefer
Ex: The doctor suggested that he (should) stop smoking.
We proposed that he go to shool on time
(Note: Nếu không có that ta dùng cấu trúc: S + V(any tenses) + sb to do st)
2. It + to be(any tenses) + adj + that + S + (should) + V(inf)
(important, necessary = essential, urgent, recommended, suggested )
Ex: it was important that he stay in bed for a few days
Subjunctives
Ngoc Phuong - THCS Dong Tan
Exercises on subjunctive
I. Choose the best answer in brackets by underlining it:
1. He asked me (do/ to do/ doing) my homework before going to bed.
2. Mary suggested that they (go/ are going/ went) togetther.
3. It is necessary that she (understand/ understands/ understood) what he says.
4. She (said/told/ recommended) that they go to Pazza for a drink.

5. We (asked/ told/ suggested) working collaboratively on the project. (hîp t¸c)
6. It is (recommended/ recommending/ recommends) that we stop working and have a holyday
7. It is urgent that she (left/ leave/ is leaving) now.
8. The teacher requested that all students (leave/ to leave/ left) the room .
9. She suggested (to go/ going/ go) to the dancing club tonight.
10. It was important that he (agrees/ agree/ agreeing) to help us.
11. if I (am / was/ were) you, I would not do such a thing.
12. if you (shall/ should) ever see him, please hand him this note.
13. She (requested/ said/ suggested/ told) that we were not strong enough to do the job.
14. It is interesting (that she know/ knowing/ to know) the truth.
15. Our teacher requested the report (be completed/ should completed/ was completed) by the
end of the month.
II. Rewrite the following sentences as shown:
1. I think it may rain. -> it looks as ..…………………………………………………………
2. Without your help, I might have failed. -> If it ………………………………………………
3. He talks like a baby. -> He talks as ..…………………………………………………………
4. If it had been fine then, I would have gone fishing. -> Had ... .………… ……………………
5. We have to go otherwise we’ll late. -> It’s .…………………………………………………
6. I don’t like you smoke in here -> I’d .………………………………………………………
7. “If I were you I wouldn’t trust Peter” She tod Jonh. -> She advised ..………………………
8. I am sorry I am not living near your house. -> I wish .………………………………………
9. He appears to be running away from your fierce dog. -> It looks .……………………………
10. I would love to be rich and famous. -> if only ………………………………………………
11. I prefer going out for a meal to staying at home. -> I’d rather ...……………………………
12. We’d better buy a new cooker. -> It’s ...……………………………………………………
13. It’s a pity that you made a lot of mistakes. -> I’d ...…………………………………………
14. She wants to go to Las Vegas more than anywhere in the world. -> She’d …………………
15. I’m sorry now that I asked her to stay. -> Now I wish ………………………………………
III. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form:
1. It’s high time for us (leave). ……………………………………

2. If only I (have) a phone. I’m tired of (queue) outside the public phone box ..……………
3. You (have) better take off your wet shoes .…………………………
4. He walks as if he (have) a wooden leg .…………………………
5. He talks as if he (do) all the work himself, but in fact Tom and I did most of it…………
6. I hate driving. I’d much rather you (drive) . …………………………………………
7. I wish I (not try) to repair it. I only made it worse. …………………………………
Subjunctives
Ngoc Phuong - THCS Dong Tan
8. He looks as though he never (get) a square meal, but in fact his wife feeds him very
well .. (thµnh thËt, th¼ng th¾n)……………………
Subjunctives