28g Use the subjunctive mood in the few contexts that require it.

There are three moods in English: the indicative, used for facts, opinions, and questions; the imperative, used for orders and advice; and the subjunctive, used in certain contexts to express wishes, requests, or conditions contrary to fact. For many writers, the subjunctive causes the most problems.

In wishes and if clauses expressing conditions contrary to fact, the subjunctive is the past-tense form of the verb; in the case of be, it is always were (not was), even if the subject is singular.

I wish that Jamal drove more slowly late at night.

If I were the committee chair, I would allow the policy change.

NOTE: Do not use the subjunctive mood in if clauses expressing conditions that exist or may exist: If Danielle passes (not passed) the test, she will become a lifeguard.

In that clauses following verbs such as ask, insist, recommend, and request, the subjunctive is the base form of the verb.

Dr. Chung insists that her students arrive on time.

Exercise 28–2

Edit the following sentences to eliminate errors in verb tense or mood. If a sentence is correct, write “correct” after it. Answers appear in the back of the book.

An example reads, After the path (strikethrough) was (end strikethrough) (insert) had been (end insert) plowed, we were able to walk in the park.

  1. The palace of Knossos in Crete is believed to have been destroyed by fire around 1375 BCE.

  2. Watson and Crick discovered the mechanism that controlled inheritance in all life: the workings of the DNA molecule.

  3. When city planners proposed rezoning the waterfront, did they know that the mayor promised to curb development in that neighborhood?

  4. Tonight’s concert begins at 9:30. If it was earlier, I’d consider going.

  5. The math position was filled by the instructor who had been running the tutoring center.