Today I would like to share some knowledge about the “subjunctive” English grammar. It may be a piece of cake for some students; however, it is not effortless for many ESL students. Introducing a variety of sentence structure in writing and speaking, makes us reach a little towards the native like speakers. Also, I am sharing subjunctive voice only with the word “wish” for today.
To get an idea of what the subjunctive is, I will give an example.
“ I wish I were with you.”
When we use wish as a subjunctive, it means imaginary. It is not true or real, and we know that it cannot be true in future.
To construct the sentence, we need to follow the syntax,
Subject + wish + tense verb (we must keep in mind that it not the tense verb that the situation is happening, but a verb that is one-step back to the actual tense verb) it might be little confusing. You can understand by the given example.”
Present
“I wish I were with you.”
Here the real situation is “ I am not with you” – simple present.
“I hate summers; I wish I were in a beautiful hill station now.”
So to construct a subjunctive, I need to think of one step back tense verb. Therefore, my sentence has “were” instead of “am”.
Please keep in mind that we never use “was” for first person in the subjunctive. Always use “were” even for first person subject.
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Past
“ I didn’t spend much time with you” this is a simple past tense sentence. So to wish it now,
We would rather say, “I wish I had spent some time with you” so simple past is converted into past perfect.
Future
“You will not come tomorrow” this is a simple future tense, which can be written like this,
I wish you would come tomorrow” – will become would.
These are all hypothetical situation, and it is not real.
And the important thing one should consider is “wish” is not equal to “hope”.
Wish Vs Hope
When I say, “I hope” it means the thing or situation I am hoping might be true, or it might happen. There is a slight chance to it to become real. Whereas “wish” could never be right and it won’t occur in future.
To construct a sentence with "hope" we don’t have to look back for another tense verb. The same tense verb works here.
For example: “I hope I get a decent score in the test.”
“ I hope this helps you”
“ I hope she reached her home safely.”
It is important to understand that whether the situation is in future or present, just indicate in simple present tense.
“ I hope I will get a decent score in the test” this is incorrect.
This is great stuff! I am going to have my youngest son read this and apply! Very useful! Thanks! Up-Voted and Followed!
I am glad to hear that :)
Nice post thaks
Hi bro
Thanks :)
Very Value Information Thank You.
Its my pleasure
I feel like I'm in the school again :D
I mean it not bad. I like it. You made it short but in that wa, you can better remember about this.
Yes.:)
i wish you will be rich...
I want hope instead of wish from you:)
Nice post and follow resteem post you..i like you @jlife
Thanks a lot :)
useful knowledge, thanks for sharing
That's my pleasure:)
Well very useful. I didn't get any gongs for my English and yet I can pick out an error in even published books, bad grammar throws itself out at you, if you know. There's a chap in the UK who goes around adding apostrophes to all sorts of signs where they are either missing, or wrong. Lovely eccentricity but only by making sure our school systems don't churn out uneducated people who have actually been through the system can things change. I never use spellcheck and didn't go in for 'Spelling Bees" and write as I write . Appreciate your piece. Thank you
That's really great. I must appreciate your talent.
That's very kind, thank you. One tries one's best. Every day I put up a daily quote, funny sometimes (they often make me smile) but so that others will sit up and think for that second. Sometimes, like later today, I will put one up that's more thoughtful. Then I've done my job as a writer. JV
I think it works well. I mean to follow a quote.
I like B&W
Gotta upvote a fellow English teacher! Just went over this with a student today! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks:) I am an ESL student preparing for the English language test. So, I am posting about on English grammar, which can help people like me.
Oh wow! You've written that very well! May I ask which exam you will be taking?
I am taking PTE test. To get a higher score I need to learn many things in grammar, which I forgot in my school days itself.
I pray for you. Your dream will come true. Remember me when you are rich.
Thanks:) But its just an example.
good reading, thank you
My pleasure :)
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STOPNice job. I always recommend the song "If I Were a Rich Man" from "Fiddler on the Roof" to go along with this lesson. I also like Beyonce's song "If I Were a Boy", while Gwen Stefani's "If I Was a Rich Girl" is grammatically incorrect but still a fun song - AND is in synch with current American usage. Many Americans do not know the distinction between using "were" and "was" in the subjunctive. "Was" is quite common.
I hope we all will become rich girls and boys! Have fun everyone.
Thank you:)