The Subjunctive in English Complete Advanced English Grammar Lesson

hello lovely students and welcome back to English with Lucy have an advanced grammar lesson for you today we are going to cover the subjunctive mood and if were you I'd pay attention this lesson is aimed at B2 to C1 Learners of English and if you are working towards those levels have something incredibly exciting for you we are running special promotion on our Advanced grammar challenge this is an amazing 30-day challenge that covers over 50 of the most common Advanced grammar mistakes in just 30 days you will have grammar transformation it's video based course with lots of exercises and teacher-led support Community for questions we cover topics like intensifiers the subjunctive Advanced comparatives mixed conditionals punctuation The Works your grammar issues solved if you would like to see the special price and to join click on the link in the description box but hurry the offer ends soon right let's get started with the lesson you probably already used the subjunctive mood at certain times when you're speaking English particularly in some conditional sentences if you have ever said if were you you have used the subjunctive want to help you expand your knowledge with few different verbs we use in the subjunctive mood but firstly what is the subjunctive mood we use it to express wishes and imagine situations and to make proposals and suggestions let's look at wish if only and would rather they often have this construction wish he were here if only were taller would rather he played outside more often instead of always sitting on the computer these are examples of the subjunctive mood now you will often hear native speakers say wish he was here for example the subjunctive mood in general is slowly falling out of use but it's imperative that you learn it if you want to pass any exam or Test in English you will hear lots of native speakers using it and you'll especially want to use it in more formal situations and in writing let's talk about the subjunctive verb forms the present subjunctive uses the base form of the verb with all subjects we use the present subjunctive to talk about present or future hypothetical for example suggested he stop eating out so often if he wants to save money you can see that use the base form of the verb stop and not stops as would normally follow third person singular subject it is often tricky to see that the subjunctive is being used if the sentence doesn't contain third person singular subject if said suggested they stop eating out so often if they want to save money you can't see that the verb stop is in the subjunctive form but this is subjunctive sentence in the past subjunctive we use the past simple form or with we use were with all subjects we use the past subjunctive to talk about things that we wish were true or that we wish had happened in the past wish you were here again we use were and not was to indicate that this is something imagined we often use the past subjunctive in subordinate clauses that begin with as though as if and if as well as with the verb wish some examples he looked straight through me as if were invisible or Dylan seemed so confident as though he knew he would win from the very beginning in the second example it's difficult to see the subjunctive being used but it is there now let's talk about verbs and phrases that are followed by the subjunctive sentences in the subjunctive mood often contain multiple Clauses here are some of the phrases and verbs that can be followed by the subjunctive with examples suggest suggest he go home immediately and check on his mum recommend recommend you take two tablets per day request we requested that she come an hour earlier to help us set up demand he demands they clean their rooms right now ask ask that we change the time of the event as so many people can't make it insist they insisted he move his car as it is blocking the road propose she proposes the team continue training for as long as possible tonight it is important that it is important that she be given priority it is advisable that it is advisable that they stay outside for short time as possible it is imperative that it is imperative that work stop immediately while we wait for the inspector finally I'd like to show you some common phrases in English that contain the subjunctive suffice to say suffice to say Ellen wasn't very happy when they arrived two hours late or be that as it may be that as it may we can't wait for them forever one of my favorites heaven forbid heaven forbid anything happened to them and so be it we use that on its own so be it this is an expression of acceptance or resignation so be it I'll let you have the job Come What May they're pushing ahead with the new road Come What May and finally far be it far be it from me to tell anyone what to do with far be it from me to tell anyone what to do it's saying that I'm not intending to tell anyone what to do if say far be it from me to criticize might be preceding something that might sound like criticism but don't want it to be criticism all of these phrases sound incredibly formal and quite old-fashioned personally like them think they sound very eloquent and interesting right that's it for today's lesson if you found that useful think the advanced grammar challenge will be perfect for you the link to join and to see these special offer price is in the description box hurry that ends soon don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media I've got my Instagram English with Lucy and my personal one at Lucy you can also check out all of my English courses there are so many there to choose from will see you soon for another lesson bye today we're learning about the subunctive great brilliant start there