Grammar

Subjunctive / Were

English keeps a small subjunctive. The present subjunctive uses the base verb after verbs of demand or suggestion, and the past subjunctive 'were' is used for all persons in unreal conditions.

Post

Level C1 Sentence Structure & Emphasis

Summary

English keeps a small subjunctive. The present subjunctive uses the base verb after verbs of demand or suggestion, and the past subjunctive 'were' is used for all persons in unreal conditions.

Structure

suggest/insist/demand that + subject + base verb ; if + subject + were

Examples

The board insisted that he resign immediately.
It is essential that every member be informed.
If I were you, I'd take the offer.
She demanded that the report be rewritten.

Common mistakes

• Adding '-s' in the present subjunctive: 'insist that he resigns' is non-standard in formal English; use 'resign'.
• Using 'was' in formal unreal conditions: 'if I was you' is better as 'if I were you'.

Related

Inverted Conditionals Wish / If Only (Present)

More sentence structure & emphasis

Basic Word Order A1

English statements normally follow subject + verb + object order. Adverbs and time expressions go in fixed positions rather than between the verb and its object.

And, But, Or A1

These conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. 'And' adds, 'but' contrasts, and 'or' offers a choice.

Inversion After Negative Adverbials C2

When a negative or restrictive adverbial begins a sentence for emphasis, the subject and auxiliary invert as in a question. This is a formal, dramatic device.

Cleft Sentences C1

Cleft sentences split one idea into two clauses to emphasise a particular element. 'It-clefts' begin with 'It is/was', and 'what-clefts' (pseudo-clefts) begin with a 'what'-clause.

Ellipsis and Substitution C1

To avoid repetition, English omits words (ellipsis) or replaces them with shorter forms like 'so', 'do', 'one', and 'neither' (substitution). Both keep sentences economical and cohesive.

Fronting and Emphasis C1

Fronting moves a word or phrase to the start of a sentence to give it emphasis or to improve cohesion. The element is highlighted simply by its unusual position.

External links

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