The Subjunctive Mood
Level C1 · Advanced Structures
The subjunctive is a special, formal verb form used after certain verbs, adjectives, and expressions of necessity, demand, suggestion, or wish — it uses the base form of the verb (no -s, no tense change) regardless of the subject, even for third-person singular or the past. It's essential that he be on time uses be, not is or was, even though the subject he would normally take is; I suggest she go describes what is proposed, using go, not goes.
How the subjunctive is built and used:
- After verbs of suggestion, demand, and recommendation (suggest, recommend, insist, demand, propose, request) + that + subject + base verb: The doctor recommended that he rest for a week; She insisted that the report be finished by Friday.
- After adjectives of necessity or importance in it is + adjective + that constructions (essential, important, vital, necessary, crucial) + that + subject + base verb: It is essential that everyone arrive on time; It is important that she be informed immediately.
- The subjunctive be replaces am/is/are/was/were for every subject, and other verbs simply drop the third-person -s: It is required that he attend (not attends); It was suggested that she be present (not was present).
- A fixed, older subjunctive also survives in set expressions and formulas: If I were you (were for every subject, not was); God save the queen; So be it; Suffice it to say.
The most common mistake is using a normal present-tense verb after that in these formal structures, matching the subject as usual — It is essential that he arrives on time is common in speech but not the strict formal subjunctive; the correct subjunctive form is It is essential that he arrive on time (base form, no -s). A second mistake is using was instead of were in the fixed subjunctive expression if I were — if I was you is widely heard informally, but the traditional subjunctive form is if I were you, regardless of the subject.
Look for a trigger verb or expression of necessity, demand, or suggestion (suggest, recommend, insist, essential, important, vital) followed by that — the verb right after the subject in that clause should be the plain base form, with no -s and no tense change, even for he/she/it or a past-time context. In everyday speech, many speakers use a normal tense instead, but formal and written English still expects the subjunctive.