There are three moods in English: the indicative, used for facts, opinions, and questions; the imperative, used for orders or 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.

Forms of the subjunctive

In the subjunctive mood, present-tense verbs do not change form to indicate the number and person of the subject. Instead, the subjunctive uses the base form of the verb (be, drive, employ) with all subjects. Also, in the subjunctive mood, there is only one past-tense form of be: were (never was).

Uses of the subjunctive

The subjunctive mood appears only in a few contexts: in contrary-to-fact clauses beginning with if or expressing a wish; in that clauses following verbs such as ask, insist, recommend, request, and suggest; and in certain set expressions.

IN CONTRARY-TO-FACT CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH IFWhen a subordinate clause beginning with if expresses a condition contrary to fact, use the subjunctive were in place of was.

The writer is not a member of Congress, and the weather is not clear.

Do not use the subjunctive mood in if clauses expressing conditions that exist or may exist.

IN CONTRARY-TO-FACT CLAUSES EXPRESSING A WISHIn formal English, use the subjunctive were in clauses expressing a wish or desire.

IN THAT CLAUSES FOLLOWING VERBS SUCH AS ASK, INSIST, REQUEST, AND SUGGEST Because requests have not yet become reality, they are expressed in the subjunctive mood.

IN CERTAIN SET EXPRESSIONS The subjunctive mood, once more widely used, remains in certain set expressions: Be that as it may, as it were, far be it from me, and so on.