The Subjunctive Mood

Indicative Mood

Expresses facts.

Imperative Mood

Expresses commands.

Subjunctive Mood

Expresses an element of uncertainty, often a wish, desire, doubt or hope.

Present Tense Subjunctive

Remove '-are' from the present infinitive, add '-e' and then the relevant ending.

First Conjugation Example

voco, vocare, vocavi, vocatum (1) to call; vocem - I may call.

Second Conjugation Example

habeo, habere, habui, habitum (2) to have; habeam - I may have.

Third Conjugation Example

solvo, solvere, solvi, solutum (3) to pay; solvam - I may pay.

Fourth Conjugation Example

scio, sciire, scivi, scitum (4); sciam - I may know.

Imperfect Tense Subjunctive

Add the relevant endings to the present infinitive form of the verb.

Perfect Tense Subjunctive

Remove '-i' from the perfect tense of the verb to get the stem '-eri' and then the relevant endings.

Pluperfect Tense

Occurs in both the active and passive voice.

Subjunctive Endings (Active)

-m (I), -s (you singular), -t (he/she/it), -mus (we), -tis (you plural), -nt (they).

Common Irregular Verbs

'esse' - to be and 'posse' - to be able.

Present Tense Indicator

In the present tense, the subjunctive can be spotted by the '-e' in the first conjugations, and the '-a' in the second, third and fourth.

Example of Subjunctive in English

I wish I were happy.

Requiescat in pace

May (s)he rest in peace.

Floreat Etona

Let Eton flourish.

Grammar Tables

It is very important to use the grammar tables frequently until you become more familiar with them.

Subjunctive in Modern Languages

Exists in modern English only rarely, primarily in old phrases and mottos.

voco, vocare, vocavi, vocatum

to call

vocav + eri + m

vocaverim - I may have called

Pluperfect tense

All conjugations

perfect stem + sse + relevant ending

vocavi + sse + m = vocavissem - I might have called

Passive tenses

In the subjunctive mood, the present and imperfect passive tenses share specific endings.

-r

I

-ris

you (singular)

-tur

he/she/it

-mur

we

-mini

you (plural)

-ntur

they

Remove '-are'

from the present infinitive to get the stem, add '-e' and then the relevant ending.

habeo, habere, habui, habitum

to have

habe + a + r

habear - I may be had

solvo, solvere, solvi, solutum

to pay

solv + a + r

solvar - I may be paid / handed over as money

scio, scire, scivi, scitum

to know

sci + a + r

sciar - I may be known

present infinitive + relevant ending

vocare + r = vocarer - I might be called

past participle + relevant part of 'esse'

vocatus, -a, -um + sim = vocatus sim - I may have been called

Latin: sim

I may have been

Latin: essem

I might have been

vocatus, -a, -um + essem

vocatus essem - I might have been called

Subjunctive

Expresses someone's hope for an action to occur, particularly if there is an element of uncertainty attached to that action.

Pateat universis

Let it be known to all

Sciant presentes et future

Know [men] present and future

Scias

Know you

Jussive subjunctive

A subjunctive used to express a command or order rather than an imperative.

Preceptum est ut Adam commune habeat

It is ordered that Adam should have common land

Preceptum est ne Adam commune habeat

It is ordered that Adam should not have common land

Preceptum est quod Adam habeat nullum commune

It is ordered that Adam should have no common land

Purpose with subjunctive

'Ut' indicates a positive purpose and 'ne' indicates a negative purpose.

Et ut audiret communicacionem

And in order that he might hear the communication

Et ne audiret communicacionem

And in order that he might not hear the communication

Si contingat

If it should happen

contingo, contingere, contigi, contactum

to happen, befall, come to pass

Cum

Means 'although', 'since' or 'whereas'.

Cum Simo ad ultimam curiam apparuerit, ad istam curiam venit

Whereas Simon appeared at the last court, he has come to this court

Simo, Simonis (m.)

Simon

appareo, apparere, apparui, apparitum

to appear

Concealed questions

Encountered in documents relating to inquiries, with a form of 'An inquiry is to be held' + question word.

Lucia rogat pro inquisitione habenda si sit uxor Nicholai

Lucy asks for an inquiry to be held [as to] whether she is the wife of Nicholas