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She insists that he come.

The English subjunctive is a special, relatively rare verb form that expresses something desired or imagined.

We use the subjunctive mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

Base Subjunctive

Form of base subjunctive

The form of the base subjunctive is extremely simple. For all verbs and all persons, the form is the base of the verb, for example: be, have, do, go, sing, work

The base subjunctive does not use any other forms (goes, sings, works).

This table shows the base subjunctive in all persons, using the verbs be, work and sing as examples:

Note that the subjunctive does not change at all according to person ( I, you, he etc).

Use of base subjunctive

In certain that clauses

The base subjunctive is typically used in that clauses after two structures:
1. suggest-verb (or noun) + that

advise, ask, command, demand, desire, insist, order, prefer, propose, recommend, request, suggest

command, demand, order, proposal, recommendation, request, suggestion

2. advisable/anxious-adjective + that

advisable, best, crucial, desirable, essential, imperative, important, necessary, unthinkable, urgent, vital

adamant, anxious, determined, eager, keen

Look at these sentences which include examples of the above:

Notice above↑:

the position of not when creating negation

that the main clause can be in any tense

Look at some more examples, which include that clauses in negative and continuous form:

The judges order that he stay the execution.

We have made a request that we not be disturbed.

It is important that a car be waiting when we arrive.

The manager was eager that his visitor see the new building.

The board of directors recommended that he not be dismissed.

Have you seen my suggestion that work hours be reduced?

The use of the subjunctive as above is more common in American English than in British English, where should structures are often used:

It was essential that we should vote the following day.

He requested that the car park should not be locked at night.

We sometimes use subjunctive be after if/whether, though this is rather formal, especially in British English:

If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.William Shakespeare

Fixed expressions

Note the following fixed expressions with the subjunctive:

were-Subjunctive

Form of were-subjunctive

Note that the subjunctive does not change according to person ( I, you, he etc).

Use of were-subjunctive

In the following examples, you can see that we sometimes use the were-subjunctive (instead of was) after:

Note that in these cases were is always correct, but was is possible in informal language:

If I Were a Rich Man Fiddler on the Roof
If I were a boyBeyoncé
If I were a carpenter
And you were a lady,
Would you marry me anyway?
Would you have my baby?Tim Hardin

Strange as it may seem, although the words hope and wish seem to be similar, we do not use the subjunctive with hope. Correct sentences with hope would be, for example:

I hope that this computer works.

I hope that this computer is working.

Subjunctive Quiz

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The English subjunctive is a special verb form that expresses something desired or imagined. We use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody: wants to happen or anticipates happening (example: He asked that we BE early; We were determined that it REMAIN secret).

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I suggest that Merry come here.
If I were in your place, I would not do it.

I propose that you be present at the meeting.

I recommend that we go to this club tonight.