THE SUBJUNCTIVE

A. General considerations
MOOD = an inflectional category of the verb
= expresses MODALITY
= the speakers attitude towards the content of the utterance
= the speakers commitment to the truth of the S in the actual world
MODALITY = an area of language where speakers can choose between simply describing or actually evaluating
or imposing a situation
(1)John is crazy. / (2)John must be crazy to accept this offer./ (3)John must leave immediately!
CURME (1935):
THE INDICATIVE = the mood of simple assertion or interrogation, presenting something as a fact or in close
relation to reality
THE SUBJUNCTIVE = the mood which presents situations as formed in the mind of the speaker /conceptions of
the mind
JESPERSEN (1965)
THE INDICATIVE= a fact mood vs. THE SUBJUNCTIVE = a thought mood
(4)I have a new book.
(5)I wish I had a new book.
>> THE SUBJUNCTIVE : the mood of non-assertion; concerned with human action; prescriptive discourse;
involved in the choice and evaluation of human action

B. THE FORM OF THE SUBJUNCTIVE

a.SYNTHETIC: You had better leave at once. (old synthetic >> infinitive forms)
He speaks as if he were the boss. (new synthetic, present subjunctive)
I wish I hadnt talked to her like that (= I did) (new synthetic, perfect cubjunctive)
b.ANALYTIC
the end of OE/ ME [ 11th c - ]: the subjunctive mood inflections begin to disappear >> the subjunctive begins to
be indicated periphrastically by means of the modal auxiliaries
SHOULD + V
> may/might/would/could
ex:
He ordered that he should leave at once. / He didnt say anything for fear he might get angry.
+ John insists that [he be left alone].
She ordered that [they be quiet].
No agreement or tense markers on the verb but Overt subject ( NOMinative) bc. there is a phonologically null
modal in the be subjunctive (John insists that they SHOULD be quiet)

C. The subjunctive in that-complement clauses

= when used in complement clauses, the subjunctive is selected by those verbs whose meaning is compatible
with its interpretation compatibility of meaning between the matrix verb and the subjunctive
TRIGGERS of the SUBJUNCTIVE:
a.LEXICAL :verbs/adjectives/nouns
EXERCITIVE predicates (S)
VOLITIONAL predicates (S)
EMOTIVE predicates/ EVALUATIVE predicates (S/I)
Verbs of COMMUNICATION (S/I)
b.FUNCTIONAL : negation
C. a. 1. EXERCITIVE Verbs/predicates (of command & of permission) = give a decision in favour/against a
certain course of action / imperative
>> they signal the normative, prescriptive dimension of the subjunctive
Ex: Vs: order, forbid, ask, insist, suggest, recommend, urge, advise, allow, authorize, permit, interdict, command,
beg, rule, prohibit, require// Adjs: advisable, obligatory, imperative, compulsory desirable
>> imperative sentences: the time sphere of the complement is FUTURE : * He ordered that he should have left. /
He demands [that he be told / should be told everything.] /They demanded [that the political changes come first.]
C.a. 2. VOLITIONAL predicates= they introduce a set of alternative worlds; ex: wish, desire, want, prefer,
willing, eager, reluctant, anxious
I am anxious that he should get the job./ I wish I had told you about it.

C.a.3. EVALUATIVE predicates (good, right, best, better, awful, annoying, crucial, important, essential, natural,
normal, vital, advisable, amazing, odd, tragic, nice // amaze, alarm, bother, surprise, irritate, disturb, regret,
deplore, etc.)
All evaluative predicates exhibit DUAL MOOD CHOICE >> WHY? Because of their meaning:
(i) a descriptive component
(ii) a normative/evaluative component
= choice of the subjunctive stresses the prescriptive component of the predicate
= choice of the indicative stresses the descriptive component of the predicate
a.It is best that he is going there today. / b.It is best that he should be going there today.
a.It is essential that the book was published./b.It is essential that the book be published.
Verbs of COMMUNICATION (agree, tell, say, confess, declare, explain, inform, state, point out, persuade,
warn, etc. )
a. I insist that the film finished at 10.00. = I say/ claim that
b. I insist that the film should finish at 10.00.= I demand
DUAL MOOD CHOICE verbs
Used as assertive Vs : the indicative
a. The secretary informed the Dean that the students will take the exam on the 5th of February
Used as exercitive Vs: the subjunctive

b.The secretary informed the students that they should take the exam on the 5th of February.
NEGATION & the subjunctive
a. I believe that he is here. / b. *I believe that he should be here.
c. I dont believe that he is here. /d. I dont believe that he should be here.
= contrary to expectations subjunctive > also with: doubt, complain, reproach, etc. (lexical predicates which
include an element of doubt/uncertainty/implicit negation)
I doubt that he should succeed.

Conclusion:
EXERCITIVE predicates : the subjunctive // VOLITIONAL predicates: the subjunctive
EMOTIVE& EVALUATIVE predicates + Verbs of COMMUNICATION: Dual Mood Choice

D. The subjunctive in other types of embedded clauses

1.CONDITIONAL CLAUSES (a, b); 2.ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF PURPOSE (d, e, f);
3.ADVERBIAL CLAUSES OF CONCESSION (g, h); 4.COMPARATIVE CLAUSES (i, j)
a.If he were my friend, he would speak for my cause.
b.Id he angry if you told him about the party.
c.Should he come, Ill ask him about his mother.
d.He steals so that he may become rich.
e.I locked myself into my study so that I should not be disturbed.
f.Extraordinary precautions were taken for fear the journalist may find out about the kidnapped politician.
g.His manner, stern though it (may) be, was not unkind.
h.Whoever they (may/might) be, he was never at home for them.
i.He treats us as if we were retarded.
j.I feel better with them than if I lived by myself.