Subjunctive I & Suppositional Mood

Subjunctive I verb forms are rare in present-day English. They occur in special kinds of subordinate clauses, particularly in some ‘that-clauses’. In Britain Subjunctive I is rather formal. Instead ‘should’+ infinitive (the Suppositional mood) is used or the Indicative mood. Americans use it more often. Subjunctive I is also used in written English.

GB: The Opposition are insisting that the Minister should resign.

TheOpposition are insisting that the Minister resigns. (informal )

US: The Opposition are insisting that the Minister resign.

We often use the Suppositional mood or Subjunctive I in ‘that-clauses’ to report advice, orders or suggestions, and after ‘it + be + adjective’ to talk about things that need to be:

the Suppositional Mood

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It has been agreed that the company should not raise its prices.

It is important that we should win this order.

They proposed that we should sell off our subsidiary company.

It’s vital that we not allow our competitors to gain an advantage over us ↑

Subjunctive I

The Suppositional Mood and Subjunctive I represent an action as problematic, but not contradicting reality. They are used to report advice, requests, suggestions, etc. about things that need to be done or are desirable.

The Suppositional Mood is formed with ‘should’ for all persons and a bare infinitive: ‘Should + do / not do/ be’. Subjunctive I coincides in form with the bare infinitive: do/ not do/ be.

E.g.: The report recommended that the land should not be sold.

The report recommended that the land not be sold.

Usage:

1. In subject subordinate clauses after ‘it + be + adjective’:

important It’s necessary that smb (should) do smth. suggested

E.g.: It is important that she understand what her decision means. (S I)

It is vital that the tourists should go climbing with a local guide. (SM)

The adjectives to use: important, necessary, important, urgent, desirable, essential, crucial, vital, imperative, appropriate, etc. The past participles to use in the pattern: suggested, requested, required, ordered, advised, agreed, arranged, etc.

Ex. 1 Complete the sentences. Make use of the words in brackets:

1. It's urgent that ……………….. the information now. (we/send)

2. It's essential that………………home now. (she/return)

3. It's vital that…………………. (he/be informed)

4. It’s desirable that……………. present at the meeting. (she/be)

5. It’s essential that …………. this form completely. (you/fill out)

6. It’s necessary that …………… to John. (you/ talk)

7. It’s not advisable that ……………. before you graduate from university. (you/ get married)

8. It was suggested that …………… a crash course in computers to have any prospects for the job. (John/ take)

Ex. 2 We would like our town to become popular with tourists. What do you think needs to be done to achieve the goal? Suggest your ideas.

E.g.: It’s important that there should be a vast range of sports and leisure facilities in our town.

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2. In object subordinate clauses:

A	Smb is anxious that smb (should) do smth. was dertermined

E.g.: My parents are anxious that I should get a good education.

Our dean is determined that the philological faculty should survive all the difficulties.

B	requested Smb suggested that smb (should) do smth. insisted

E.g.: They directed that the building be pulled down. (S I)

We urged that the students should be told immediately. (SM)

The verbs to use in the main clause: suggest, propose, insist, demand, agree, arrange, direct, urge, advise, ask, beg, order, command, warn, recommend, instruct, request, require, stipulate.

Ex. 3 Complete the sentences. Make use of the words in brackets:

1. Marion proposed that ………………...a gift for Jim who would soon be leaving the firm. (we/buy)

2. The travel agent recommended that …………... driving abroad during the holidays. (we/avoid)

3. I suggest that….... this matter during the meeting. (he/not raise)

4. All I ask is that……………………... the rules. (they/not break)

5. What does she advise that …………………………..? (he/do)

6. It's no good demanding that ………………….our performance. We're doing our best. (we/improve)

7. I would only request that ………………...good care of this flat while you're living in it. (you/take)

8. Her solicitor insisted that... in signing the contract. (she/not/delay)

9. I suggest... a taxi if we want to get to the meeting on time. (we/take)

10. He asks that....... to visit his children once a week. (he/be allowed)

Ex. 4 Turn the following sentences into reported speech.

1. "You must help us," he said to me. (insist)

2. "Let's go to the cinema," they said to us. (suggest)

3. "I’ll pay for the damage." I said to him. “OK” he said. (agree)

4. "Try the new Greek restaurant," my friend said to us. (recommend)

5. “You must visit us,” they said to me. (insist)

6. “You ought to take the other road,” he said. (suggest)

7. “Stay in bed for a few days,” the doctor recommended.

8. “Shall we meet again next Thursday?” Roger said. (suggest)

9. “Don’t be horrible to your little sister,” his father said. (demand)

10. “You must finish the report,” she said to him. (insist)

Ex. 5 You are going to write a report to assess the new Monty’s fast-food restaurant. Read the following notes and suggest improvements.

E.g.: I recommend/ advise that different vegetarian dishes (should) be added to the menu.

1. The menu was varied but the choice of vegetarian dishes was boring. (to add different vegetarian dishes)

2. The wine tasted like vinegar. (to check quality of wines)

3. The hamburger was tasty but rather cold. (to make sure that all hot dishes are served hot)

4. The Monty’s staff were helpful but the service was rather slow. (to improve staff training)

5. The waiters were wearing jeans. (to get staff a proper uniform)

6. It was a bit noisy and smoky. (to start a no-smoking policy)

7. It was too expensive for a fast-food restaurant. (to lower the prices)

3. In predicative subordinate clauses:

demand Smb’s suggestion is/was that smb (should) do smth. arrangement

E.g.: His request was that he take no part in the proceedings. (S I)

My only wish was that I should be let alone. (SM)

4. In attributive subordinate clauses:

gave a warning Smb put farward a suggestion that smb (should) do smth.

E.g.: The weather forecast gave a warning that people should be prepared for heavy snow.

Ex. 6 Paraphrase the sentences as in the example:

E.g.: He suggested that we should do it ourselves. (object cl.)

His suggestion was that we should do it ourselves. (predicative cl.)

He put forward a suggestion that we should do it ourselves. (attributive)

1. I demanded that they should show me the letter.

2. They suggested that the consultation should take place on Sunday.

3. She ruled that the children should always come in time.

4. We have arranged that the swimming pool should be reserved for younger children on Sunday mornings.

5. Mother ordered that my light should be out at ten o’clock.

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