Except in some kinds of conditional sentences (se section on conditional patterns), and in a few patterns of which examples will be given below, subjunctive forms are seldom used in modern English except occasionally in poetry, oratory, and the kinds of solemn utterances that borrow their language from the past.

But though the subjunctive mood plays only a small part in modern English we should be able to recognize it when we see or hear it in formal patterns, and we must be able to employ it accurately in the few standard patterns where its use is essential for the clear expression of certain meanings.

The subjunctive mood (or mode) differs from the indicative in the attitude towards reality which it expresses.  When we use the indicative we consider reality as objective, as something capable of being known and described.  We believe that our statements embody facts or at least reasonable opinions.  We say, “The house is red. – It’s hot today. – Do you like apples?” The subjunctive mood, on the other hand, might very well be called also the subjective mood, for it is concerned less with the nature of external reality than with our subjective reaction to that reality. When we use the subjunctive, we know that we are not so much stating facts, as expressing some attitude (often a very unreasonable one) towards those facts.  Face to face with aspects of reality which are partly, or entirely, outside of our control, we wish or pray, demand or beg, caution or urge, curse or bless.

 The limits to the use of subjunctive are not easy to draw.  They include attitudes that range from pure fantasy to settled judgment and all that may lie between these two extremes.  We say “I wish I had a million dollars.” We also say “It is the judgment of this court that the prisoner be remanded to custody, and that he be required to serve a sentence of 30 days in the CountyJail; as a punishment for his crime.”
 

Present subjunctive forms and patterns

The present subjunctive will be treated first. It is easy to form: of any verb, including to be, simple use the infinitive minus to. This form is the same for all persons.

I		I
You		You
He		He
She	be	She	go
We		We
You		You
they		they

It’s chief uses are as follows:

a. In noun clauses used as subjects, when modified by predicate adjectives that express necessity, urgency, advisability, etc.

 Examples:

• It is urgent that he be warned at once.
• It is better that the package be sent directly to my home.
• It is not necessary that he advise us of his decision until next week.
• It was necessary that I be awakened by seven o’clock at the latest

Notice that this construction often follows a dummy subject, the true subject is, however, the noun clause. Notice also that the present subjunctive is used in the noun clause even when the main clause is in the past tense. (Last example above.)

b. In noun clauses used as the objects of verbs of suasion.

 Examples:

• They insisted that he be dismissed at once.
• They will urge that the new government be recognized as soon as possible.
• They requested that he leave the country at once.
• We advised that the student be returned to Lackland for further training.
• She demanded that he be given another chance.
• The Board recommended that he be promoted to the rank of Major.

 Note: Patterns under a. and b. above have several things in common: the subjunctive occurs in a subordinate noun clause and very often (though not always) in the passive voice; it is a present subjunctive, though the verb of the main clause may be past, present or future; the verb or significant adjective in the main clause expresses necessity, urgency or desirability.

 c. In stereotyped expressions of well-wishing, cursing, etc. that survive from an older period of the language.

Examples:

• God bless you!
• Far be it from me to tell you how you should run your business but….
• So be it! (An expression of resignation and acceptance of necessity)
• Damn it! (Expression of quick anger or annoyance)

Past subjunctive forms and patterns

The past tenses, both simple and perfect, of the subjunctive mode are identical inform with those of the indicative (with the exception of the simple past of to be), so it is only the unusual uses to which they are put in certain constructions with enable us to recognize them as subjunctives. In the simple past subjunctive of to be, the form were is used for all persons: 

I were
You were
He, she, it were
We were
You were
They were
This irregularity is still standard usage in modern English, both written and spoken, but there is a growing tendency in spoken English to employ was for the third person.

Example: I wish it was spring already!

The chief uses of the past subjunctive in modern English are as follows:
 

Simple past subjunctive

When a wish is capable of being realized or fulfilled, we follow the wish verb by an infinitive, as in: “I wish to be remembered to your Mother.” Or “I wish to go now. “

 But when we need to express the unrealistic or contrary-to-fact nature of some of our wishes, we use the past subjunctive.

Examples:

• I wish I were ten years younger.
• We wish we were back in our own country. (but we aren’t)
• He wishes he had enough money to go home for Christmas. (But he hasn’t enough.)
• She wishes you would write her more often. (But I don’t suppose you will.)
• I wish I could help you. (But I can’t)

Past Perfect subjunctive.  (same form as past perfect indicative)

These forms are used to express the content of present or past wishes for some past happening or condition that did not occur.  In other words, they describe what might have been, but wasn’t.

Examples:

• I wish that I had said that. (But I didn’t).
• I wish I had known that you were going to be in San Antonio.  (But I didn’t know.)
• He sometimes wished that he had never left his native city. (Past tense in main clause)
• I have often wished that I had studied more mathematics in college.  (Present perfect in main clause)

Note: Since the past perfect subjunctive looks the same as the past perfect indicative, they can only be distinguished by their function in the sentence.