Hi everyone,
I’ve just read in Swan’s PEU that the subjunctive is very formal and unusual in British English and that the British usually prefer should + infinitive or simply present and past tenses.
Let me quote some of his sentences:
AmE: It is essential that every child have the same educational opportunities.
BrE: It is essentiak that every child should have/ has the same educational opportunities.
Can you also say then:
The director asked that he be allowed to advertise for more staff.
The director asked that he should be allowed to advertise for more staff.
The director asked that he would be allowed to advertise for more staff. (though this seems unnatural to me).
There are ofcourse fixed phrases like:
God save the Queen.
God bless you.
Heaven forbid.
Be that as it may.
If I were you…
My question is, is the subjunctive still used a lot in BrE? and can you also say: 'If I were he/him/her…
Thanks
Alexandro
The subjunctive is used in British English just as much as it is in American English, and you will find that I’ve used ‘if… were’ in many posts.
In the sentences you quote from Swan, I would usually use and expect to hear ‘should have’, however I would not find ‘have’ at all unnatural.
In your example, the second does not sound as natural as the first. the third is incorrect.
Thanks Beeesneees,
Yet there are grammar books saying that the Subjunctive Mood in BrE is gradually withering away. Bad grammar books then?
Alexandro
Hi Beeesneees,
So I can say : I pray you live to be a hundred years. (Present Subjunctive)
I prayed he lived to be hundred years. (Is that a good Past Subjunctive?)
Thank you Alexandro
‘Gradually withering away’(which, sadly, it is) is not the same as ‘very formal and unusual’ (which it isn’t).
Also I imagine the situation is no different in Britain than in America.
Your ‘prayer’ sentences are okay.
Hi Beeesneees,
Is the subjunctunctive mood in English slowly disappearing? Don’t put anything between brackets please, it confuses me.
Thanks
Alexandro
Hi Beeesneees,
Is it also correct to say: ‘He insisted that I come to his party.’ If it is, does the meaning depend on the context?
Thank you very much
Alexandro.
It’s correct. There is only one meaning.
Thank you Beeesneees, but I’m not quite sure about the meaning. My intuition tells me the action is partly past, and partly in the future:'Peter is having a party next week. He invited me this morning, but I told him I couldn’t come, yet he insisted that I come.
Two last questions: Why can you use a present subjuctive after a verb in the past tense?
Is it possible to passivise the subjunctive:
- The judge ordered that the dangerous criminal be transferred to another prison.
Thanks
Alexandro