LII. THE SUBJUNCTIVE MODE
200. When we say, “If I were you, I should be a doctor,” we have a dependent proposition, If I were you, which states not a fact, but an imaginary condition. This condition is, moreover, directly contrary to fact, for I am not you, and never can be. The verb used in expressing such a condition is said to be in the subjunctive mode.
201. The subjunctive mode is found not only in dependent propositions introduced by if, but in those introduced by lest, whether, although, etc.
(a) Be quiet lest the baby wake.
(b) We cannot tell whether he be the rightful heir or not.
(c) Though he wait long, yet he will come at last.
In each of these sentences the subjunctive mode is used to express doubt or uncertainty, or something imagined but not actually realized.
202. The subjunctive mode is so named because it is found principally in dependent, or subjoined propositions. It is, however, found also in independent propositions expressing a wish; as, “Long live the King!” “God bless thee, dear!”
203. The subjunctive mode is used in the statement of something that is uncertain; as, “If he come in time, dinner will be served at six.” This sentence means that his coming is to take place in the future, hence we cannot tell whether it will be a fact or not. In the sentence, “If he comes in time, dinner is served at six,” we use the indicative mode because we mean that sometimes he really does come in time.
204. The subjunctive mode is little used, especially in conversation; but we find many instances of it in the Bible and in the works of Shakespeare, hence we should understand its meaning. Nowadays, except to express a wish, as, “Heaven defend thee!” and to express a condition contrary to fact, as, “If the ring were gold, it would not discolor your finger,” most persons use the indicative mode or some other verb phrase. Instead of saying, “If to-morrow be fair,” most persons say, “If to-morrow is fair,” or “If to-morrow should be fair.” (See Lesson LXI.)
205. There are four tenses in the subjunctive mode, but the forms do not differ greatly from those of the indicative mode. There is no interrogative form.
206. Conjugation of be in the subjunctive mode:—
| Present Tense | Past Tense | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| I be | we be | I were | we were |
| you be | you be | thou were | you were |
| he be | they be | he were | they were |
| Present Perfect Tense | Past Perfect Tense | ||
| I have been | we have been | I had been | we had been |
| thou have been | you have been | thou had been | you had been |
| he have been | they have been | he had been | they had been |
207. Conjugation of see in the subjunctive mode:—
| Present Tense | Past Tense | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| I see | we see | I saw | we saw |
| thou see | you see | thou saw | you saw |
| he see | they see | he saw | they saw |
| Present Perfect Tense | Past Perfect Tense | ||
| I have seen | we have seen | I had seen | we had seen |
| thou have seen | you have seen | thou had seen | you had seen |
| he have seen | they have seen | he had seen | they had seen |
Summary.—The subjunctive mode is used in an exclamative sentence to express a wish, and in a dependent proposition to express something contrary to fact or something uncertain.
The subjunctive mode has no future tenses.
Exercise 1.—Conjugate all the verbs in Exercise 2, p. 126, in the subjunctive mode.
Exercise 2.—Select all the verbs in the subjunctive mode in these sentences, and tell why that mode is used:—
1. Misery loves company—even though it be very poor company.
2. If the weather be fine, there breaks upon the eye, as we rise higher and higher, a succession of those views of mountain, lake and forest, which can be had only from an elevated position.
3. The Lord be between thee and me when we are absent one from the other.
4. If the whole world were put into one scale and my mother into the other, the world could not outweigh her.
5. If a boy were obliged to work at nut gathering in order to procure food for the family, he would find it very irksome.
6.
Green be the turf above thee,Friend of my better days!7. John convinces himself that he must watch the hawk lest it pounce upon the chicken.
8. If chicadee seem preoccupied or absorbed, you may know that he is building a nest.
9. If I were a millionaire, city life would be agreeable enough, for I could always get away from it.
10.
And Death, whenever he come to me,Shall come on the wide, unbounded sea.11. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12.
Christ save us all from a death like this,On the reef of Norman’s Woe!13. If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.
14. God be merciful to us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance.
15. If a man say that he hath no sin, he deceiveth himself, and the truth is not in him.
16. If he had told the truth, somebody would have believed him.
17. If impressment were the law of the world, if it formed part of the code of nations and were usually practiced, then it might be defended as a common right.