The synthetic forms of the Subjunctive Mood can be traced to the Old English period when the Subjunctive Mood was chiefly expressed by synthetic, forms. In Old English the Subjunctive Mood had a special set of inflections, different from those of the Indicative.
In course of time most of the inflections were lost and the difference between the forms of the Subjunctive and those of the Indicative has almost disappeared. However, in Modern English there are a few synthetic forms of the Subjunctive which have survived; they are as follows: the Present Subjunctive of all the verbs and the Past Subjunctive only of the verb to be.
The Present Subjunctive Mood
| to be | to have, to know, to speak, etc. |
|---|---|
| I be he, she, it be we be you be they be |
I have, know, speak he, she, it have, know, speak we have, know, speak you have, know, speak they have, know, speak |
In the Present Subjunctive the verb to be has the form be for all the persons singular and plural, which differs from the corresponding forms of the Indicative Mood (the Present Indefinite). In all other verbs the forms of the Present Subjunctive differ from the corresponding forms of the Indicative Mood only in the third person singular, which in the Present Subjunctive has no ending – s.
The Present Subjunctive denotes an action referring to the present or future. This form is seldom used in Modern English. It may be found in poetry and in elevated prose, where these forms are archaisms used with a certain stylistic aim. It is also used in scientific language and in the language of official documents, where it is a living form.
Wretched is the infant’s lot, Born within the straw-roof’d cot; Be he generous, wise or brave.
He must only be a slave. (Southey)
Though all the world be false, still will I be true. (Trollope)
The Present Subjunctive also occurs in some set expressions.
Be it so!
Suffice it to say that he soon came back. Allah forbid!
Far be it from me to contradict you.
In American English the Present Subjunctive is used not only in the above mentioned cases but also in colloquial language.
Yates called the hospital and insisted that one of the doctors come to the phone. (Heym)
The Past Subjunctive Mood
| to be | to have, to know, to speak, etc. |
|---|---|
| I were he, she, it were we were you were they were |
– |
In the Past Subjunctive the verb to be has the form were for all the persons singular and plural, which in the singular differs from the corresponding form of the Indicative Mood (the Past Indefinite).
The Past Subjunctive is widely used in Modern English and occurs not only in literature but also in colloquial language.
The term ‘Past Subjunctive’ is merely traditional as in Modern English it does not necessarily express a past action. In adverbial clauses of condition it denotes an unreal condition referring to the present or future. In other types of subordinate clauses it denotes an action simultaneous with the action expressed in the principal clause; thus it may refer to the present and to the past.
If I were ill I should like to be nursed by you. (Bennett)
I want to go everywhere, I wish I were a gipsy. (Galsworthy)
I wished he were less remote. (Du Maurler)