The Difference Between the Subjunctive and Indicative Moods

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 85 views

The Subjunctive Mood in English: A Guide to Identifying and Using It Correctly

What is the Subjunctive Mood?

The subjunctive mood is a grammatical form used to express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event. It is often used in clauses that begin with words such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that." The subjunctive mood is a key aspect of English grammar, and understanding how to use it correctly can help you communicate more effectively in writing and speaking.

The Difference Between the Subjunctive and Indicative Moods

The indicative mood is used to make statements or ask questions about a situation or event that is real or true. The subjunctive mood, on the other hand, is used to express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event. For example:

Indicative mood: "I am going to the store." (This sentence is a statement about a real event.)
Subjunctive mood: "It is necessary that I go to the store." (This sentence expresses a possibility or necessity about a situation.)

Identifying the Subjunctive Mood in Sentences

To identify the subjunctive mood in a sentence, look for the following characteristics:

The sentence begins with a word such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that."
The verb in the sentence is in the subjunctive form, which is often different from the indicative form.
The sentence expresses doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event.

The Subjunctive Mood in Conditional Sentences

Conditional sentences are used to express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event. They often begin with words such as "if" or "wish." The subjunctive mood is used in conditional sentences to express the possibility or necessity of a situation or event. For example:

If I were a world traveler, I would definitely go to Greece. (This sentence expresses a possibility about a situation.)
If I were to win the lottery, I would buy a house. (This sentence expresses a possibility about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Wishes and Suggestions

Wishes and suggestions often use the subjunctive mood to express a possibility or necessity about a situation or event. For example:

I wish it were raining so I could stay inside. (This sentence expresses a wish about a situation.)
It is necessary that he be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a necessity about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Necessary That"

Clauses beginning with "it is necessary that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a necessity about a situation or event. For example:

It is necessary that he be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a necessity about a situation.)
It is necessary that she take the course. (This sentence expresses a necessity about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Advisable That"

Clauses beginning with "it is advisable that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event. For example:

It is advisable that he take the course. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)
It is advisable that she be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Possible That"

Clauses beginning with "it is possible that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a possibility about a situation or event. For example:

It is possible that he be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a possibility about a situation.)
It is possible that she take the course. (This sentence expresses a possibility about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Desirable That"

Clauses beginning with "it is desirable that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a desire or preference about a situation or event. For example:

It is desirable that he take the course. (This sentence expresses a desire or preference about a situation.)
It is desirable that she be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a desire or preference about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Required That"

Clauses beginning with "it is required that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a requirement or necessity about a situation or event. For example:

It is required that he be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a requirement or necessity about a situation.)
It is required that she take the course. (This sentence expresses a requirement or necessity about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Recommended That"

Clauses beginning with "it is recommended that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event. For example:

It is recommended that he take the course. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)
It is recommended that she be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Suggested That"

Clauses beginning with "it is suggested that" often use the subjunctive mood to express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event. For example:

It is suggested that he take the course. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)
It is suggested that she be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Advisable to"

Clauses beginning with "it is advisable to" often use the subjunctive mood to express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event. For example:

It is advisable to take the course. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)
It is advisable to be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Desirable to"

Clauses beginning with "it is desirable to" often use the subjunctive mood to express a desire or preference about a situation or event. For example:

It is desirable to take the course. (This sentence expresses a desire or preference about a situation.)
It is desirable to be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a desire or preference about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Required to"

Clauses beginning with "it is required to" often use the subjunctive mood to express a requirement or necessity about a situation or event. For example:

It is required to take the course. (This sentence expresses a requirement or necessity about a situation.)
It is required to be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a requirement or necessity about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Recommended to"

Clauses beginning with "it is recommended to" often use the subjunctive mood to express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event. For example:

It is recommended to take the course. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)
It is recommended to be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)

The Subjunctive Mood in Clauses Beginning with "It is Suggested to"

Clauses beginning with "it is suggested to" often use the subjunctive mood to express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event. For example:

It is suggested to take the course. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)
It is suggested to be present at the meeting. (This sentence expresses a suggestion or recommendation about a situation.)

Which Sentence is Written in the Subjunctive Mood?

Now that we have discussed the subjunctive mood and how to identify it in sentences, let's look at the two sentences provided:

A. If I were a world traveler, I would definitely go to Greece. B. If I was a world traveler, I would definitely go to Greece.

Which sentence is written in the subjunctive mood?

The answer is A. If I were a world traveler, I would definitely go to Greece.

This sentence is written in the subjunctive mood because it begins with the word "if" and uses the subjunctive form of the verb "to be" (were). The sentence expresses a possibility or necessity about a situation, which is a characteristic of the subjunctive mood.

In contrast, sentence B uses the indicative form of the verb "to be" (was), which is not the correct form for the subjunctive mood. Therefore, sentence B is not written in the subjunctive mood.

Conclusion

The subjunctive mood is a key aspect of English grammar, and understanding how to use it correctly can help you communicate more effectively in writing and speaking. By identifying the characteristics of the subjunctive mood and using the correct form of the verb, you can express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event. Remember, the subjunctive mood is used in clauses that begin with words such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that," and it is often used to express a possibility or necessity about a situation or event.
The Subjunctive Mood: A Q&A Guide

Q: What is the subjunctive mood?

A: The subjunctive mood is a grammatical form used to express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event. It is often used in clauses that begin with words such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that."

Q: How do I know when to use the subjunctive mood?

A: You can use the subjunctive mood in the following situations:

When expressing doubt or uncertainty about a situation or event
When making a suggestion or recommendation
When expressing a possibility or necessity about a situation or event
When using words such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that"

Q: What is the difference between the subjunctive and indicative moods?

A: The indicative mood is used to make statements or ask questions about a situation or event that is real or true. The subjunctive mood, on the other hand, is used to express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event.

Q: How do I identify the subjunctive mood in a sentence?

A: To identify the subjunctive mood in a sentence, look for the following characteristics:

The sentence begins with a word such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that"
The verb in the sentence is in the subjunctive form, which is often different from the indicative form
The sentence expresses doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event

Q: What are some common words that trigger the subjunctive mood?

A: Some common words that trigger the subjunctive mood include:

If
Wish
It is necessary that
It is desirable that
It is required that
It is recommended that
It is suggested that

Q: How do I use the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences?

A: To use the subjunctive mood in conditional sentences, follow these steps:

Begin the sentence with a word such as "if"
Use the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g. "were" instead of "was")
Express a possibility or necessity about a situation or event

Q: How do I use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is necessary that"?

A: To use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is necessary that," follow these steps:

Begin the sentence with the phrase "it is necessary that"
Use the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g. "be" instead of "is")
Express a necessity about a situation or event

Q: How do I use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is desirable that"?

A: To use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is desirable that," follow these steps:

Begin the sentence with the phrase "it is desirable that"
Use the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g. "be" instead of "is")
Express a desire or preference about a situation or event

Q: How do I use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is required that"?

A: To use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is required that," follow these steps:

Begin the sentence with the phrase "it is required that"
Use the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g. "be" instead of "is")
Express a requirement or necessity about a situation or event

Q: How do I use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is recommended that"?

A: To use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is recommended that," follow these steps:

Begin the sentence with the phrase "it is recommended that"
Use the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g. "be" instead of "is")
Express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event

Q: How do I use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is suggested that"?

A: To use the subjunctive mood in clauses beginning with "it is suggested that," follow these steps:

Begin the sentence with the phrase "it is suggested that"
Use the subjunctive form of the verb (e.g. "be" instead of "is")
Express a suggestion or recommendation about a situation or event

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using the subjunctive mood?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using the subjunctive mood include:

Using the indicative form of the verb instead of the subjunctive form
Failing to use the subjunctive form in clauses that begin with words such as "if," "wish," or "it is necessary that"
Using the subjunctive mood in clauses that do not express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event

Q: How can I practice using the subjunctive mood?

A: To practice using the subjunctive mood, try the following exercises:

Write a paragraph using the subjunctive mood to express a possibility or necessity about a situation or event
Identify the subjunctive mood in a sentence and explain why it is used
Use the subjunctive mood in a conditional sentence to express a possibility or necessity about a situation or event

Conclusion

The subjunctive mood is a complex and nuanced aspect of English grammar, but with practice and patience, you can master it. By understanding the characteristics of the subjunctive mood and using the correct form of the verb, you can express doubt, uncertainty, or possibility about a situation or event. Remember to practice using the subjunctive mood in different contexts, and don't be afraid to make mistakes – it's all part of the learning process!