subjunctive Grammar

subjunctive Grammar
subjunctive Grammar [səb'dʒʌŋ(k)tɪv]
adjective denoting a mood of verbs expressing what is imagined or wished or possible. Compare with indicative.
noun a verb in the subjunctive mood.
Derivatives
subjunctively adverb
Origin
C16: from Fr. subjonctif, -ive or late L. subjunctivus, from subjungere (see subjoin), rendering Gk hupotaktikos 'subjoined'.
Usage
The subjunctive form of a verb is typically used for what is imagined, wished, or possible. It is usually the same as the ordinary or indicative form of the verb except in the third person singular, where the normal indicative -s ending is omitted: for example, one should say the report recommends that he face the tribunal rather than he faces… The subjunctive is also different from the indicative when the verb ‘to be’ is used: for example, it is strictly correct to say I wouldn't try that if I were you rather than …if I was you. In modern English the subjunctive tends to convey a more formal tone, but there are few people who would regard its absence as actually wrong.

English new terms dictionary. 2014.

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  • subjunctive — Grammar ► ADJECTIVE ▪ (of a form of a verb) expressing what is imagined or wished or possible. ► NOUN ▪ a verb in the subjunctive mood. ORIGIN Latin subjunctivus, from subjungere add to, join in addition …   English terms dictionary

  • subjunctive mood — 1. The subjunctive mood, one of the great shifting sands of English grammar, is a verbal form or mood expressing wish or hypothesis in contrast to fact, and usually denotes what is imagined, wished, demanded, proposed, and so on. In modern… …   Modern English usage

  • Subjunctive mood — In grammar, the subjunctive mood (abbreviated sjv or sbjv) is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express various states of irreality such as wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet… …   Wikipedia

  • Subjunctive in Dutch — The subjunctive mood in Dutch is a verb mood typically used in dependent clauses to express a wish, command, emotion, possibility, uncertainty, doubt, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred. It is also referred to as… …   Wikipedia

  • grammar — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Mode of speaking and writing Nouns 1. grammar; accidence, syntax, analysis, synopsis, praxis, punctuation, syllabi[fi]cation; agreement. See speech, language, writing. 2. a. part of speech; participle;… …   English dictionary for students

  • subjunctive — sub·junc·tive || sÉ™b dʒʌŋktɪv n. subjunctive mood, verb in the subjunctive mood (Grammar) adj. of or pertaining to a verb form which expresses an action or state as something which is not yet fact and is still contingent and dependent… …   English contemporary dictionary

  • subjunctive — /səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv / (say suhb jungktiv) Grammar –adjective 1. (in many languages) designating or relating to a verb mood having among its functions the expression of contingent or hypothetical action. For example, in the sentence Were I but king,… …  

  • subjunctive — sub|junc|tive [səbˈdʒʌŋktıv] n [Date: 1500 1600; : Late Latin; Origin: subjunctivus, from Latin subjunctus, past participle of subjungere to join below, subordinate ] a verb form or a set of verb forms in grammar, used in some languages to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • subjunctive — noun (C) a verb form or a set of verb forms in grammar, used in some languages to express doubt, wishes: In if I were you the verb to be is in the subjunctive. compare imperative 1 (3), indicative 2 subjunctive adjective …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • subjunctive —   a.,n. Grammar, (pertaining to) mood of verb expressing possibility, desire, etc., and not actuality or fact …   Dictionary of difficult words

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