Subjunctive: What's a Mood in English Grammar?

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Index
0:00 Introduction
1:24 What is a mood?
1:43 What are the moods in English grammar?
(Note that not all sources agree on how many moods there are and what they are. Some grammarians divide moods into major and minor ones. A few sources recognize one I didn't present: the exclamatory mood.)
4:14 The past subjunctive "were" in "if" clauses
4:50 The past subjunctive "were" in wishes
5:23 Variation with "as if/as though"
6:00 Verbs of necessity followed by the subjunctive (Some sources call these "performative verbs.)
8:15 Quiz 1: error correction
8:45 Gerunds as an alternative
9:22 (Object) + infinitive as an alternative
9:58 Passive forms in the subjunctive
10:10 Quiz 2: forming the passive
10:34 Negative forms in the subjunctive
11:43 Quiz 3: making less formal sentences
12:28 Practice task. Giving advice.
🔹There are other uses of the subjunctive, for example set phrases with subjunctive verb forms ("so be it"). I limited my presentation to the more common uses.🔹
▶️ Playlist on conditionals.
• Conditionals (IF-claus...
▶️Gerunds and infinitives.
• Gerunds and Infinitive...
▶️Types of clauses.
• Types of Clauses: Adva...
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[@lucas-vq4ib]

Good video, can you make a video about "how" and "what" in expressions? That is, in spanish "what a pity" and for example "how cute", that "what and how" in spanish it is translated the same word "Que", and it's confusing because when I want to express myself with an expression that begins with "que" (pretty, incredible, etc.) I don't know if a what or how goes at the beginning of the sentence. For example If I didn't see on google that "what a pity" went with "what" before, I would say it as "how pity" (now I know but it's an example) Basically I don't know when expressing myself whether to use what or how at the beginning of the sentence, sorry for the long text. Greetings

[@Englishwithjennifer]

I chose to stick with the five commonly recognized moods (indicative, imperative, interrogative, subjunctive, conditional), but some recognize yet another: the exclamatory mood. Others say it's simply a sentence type. These are statements of strong emotion, and they end with an exclamation point. (!) I'd likely call your model sentences examples of the so-called exclamatory mood: What a pity (that is)! How cute (it is)! Do you see how we use ellipsis? We omit the subject and verb and we're left with "What" or "How" and then a noun phrase or an adjective: How nice! How sweet! (adjectives) What a nice person! What a sweet gesture! (noun phrases) Maybe I'll make a follow-up video on moods and sentence types. :)

[@lucas-vq4ib]

@@Englishwithjennifer thankss

[@yagmurcamd]

What a wonderful lecture, thank you for the video.

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[@Englishwithjennifer]

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[@Thomasjohn1490]

Thanks a lot for your outstanding explanation - it is second to none.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

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[@user-lx4ox9yx2i]

Thank you for clear explanation. Thumbs up! You rock!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching.

[@luciadelviso9342]

You are my favourite teacher! I always come to your videos when I have to brush up some topic in English. Keep up the excellent job!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for the support! 😃

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Thank you millions for your efforts Really, I am speechless. There is no word that I could use to express my grateful. You always have an effective way. In fact, I can't hold my fingers right now. Thank you again, such a great person.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Sending kind regards from Massachusetts, USA!

[@user-lx4ox9yx2i]

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[@Englishwithjennifer]

Yes, that's good advice for teachers. You can say the same about any job: I strongly recommend that you pursue your [career] with passion.

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[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you, Odair. Kind wishes to you.

[@user-lx4ox9yx2i]

It is essential that you pursue your teaching with passion.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

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[@PassionGeopolitics]

Thanks a lot Jennifer really instructive

[@Englishwithjennifer]

My pleasure. Kind regards!

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[@nickbrooks7171]

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[@Englishwithjennifer]

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[@alshaimaaalshafeay3370]

this is a great lesson. thank you.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

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[@AbhishekRai-qo2fj]

Great work ma'am, I love your teaching

[@Englishwithjennifer]

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[@Deevya10]

Thank you so much 💫💓

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Most welcome! 😊

[@nickbrooks7171]

Jenifer I met your kids, Well I met them through your videos. Hopefully they are still behaving well. You seem to be a great mom. Tell them that one of your viewers said to asked them to love you a lot and give you plenty of kisses every day 😘 and tell them to behave very well so you can always be happy. Show this comment to them :) PS. Jenifer I am so happy that you are on KZbin. . You are the most beautiful patient caring and most knowledgeable teacher on KZbin . Thanks a lot for being with us for such a long time. We would miss you if you were not with us . Go on!!! Continue making videos .Don’t give up. Train your kids so they can continue the KZbin business haha.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hello Nick. I appreciate your warm support. Thank you for thinking of my children and wish us all well. My daughter is beside me now because we are at the dentist's. I have time to read and respond to comments here in the waiting room. Yes, it's been a long time, and it's because I have kind support from people like you that I continue my work. I'll do my best to continue sharing lessons. Thank you for watching. I'm not sure what profession my children will chose. Time will tell. I wish you all the best. Thank you for watching and supporting me.

[@user-lx4ox9yx2i]

It's important that your life be filled with meaning.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Correctly written.

[@kamlesh239]

I am from India. I love❤ the way you teach.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you! More lessons here. www.englishwithjennifer.com/students/yt-videos/

[@federicapaesano1506]

Thank you for this lesson .I think it is important that our life be filled with joy and tolerance nice weekend

[@Englishwithjennifer]

I agree, Federica. Joy comes from different sources, but tolerance makes us aware of others' needs and wishes. We shouldn't pursue joy at the expense of others. Take care.

[@ievents880]

very useful lesson.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for choosing to study with me! 😃

[@claudettehernandez8391]

Greetings from Mexico

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hello there! Thanks for visiting today.

[@hilalahmad7286]

Hello Jennifer Excellent lesson! It's necessary that we pay attention to what Jennifer says. It's necessary for us to pay attention to what Jennifer says. It's essential that we remain focused on our dreams and be not distracted by anything. Wish Jennifer would make videos every single day. And, if she did, it would be great. I think it's important that we wear masks and get our shots now. I wish I were fluent in English. If only Coronavirus pandemic hadn't happened, we wouldn't have lost millions of lives. Please have a look at these examples! Thank you! Stay safe and take care!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Super work, Hilal! Note that if you want very formal English, then avoid contractions. Otherwise, they're okay. They're certainly very natural in conversation. Use a subject here: I wish Jennifer would make videos every single day. Use an article here: If only the coronavirus (or COVID) pandemic hadn't happened. Personally, I recommend "If only" statements as a shorted statement with a single clause: If only COVID never existed. If only the pandemic had never happened. For a full clause, drop the "only": If the pandemic hadn't happened, we wouldn't have lost millions of lives. Note that there isn't always a clear distinction between the conditional mood and the subjunctive mood. Most sources restrict the past subjunctive to "were." Then we have real and unreal conditionals, and many statements do not make use of "were" for a counterfactual condition. I hope that makes some sense. I tried to explain my understanding of two moods being present in one sentence. "If I weren't so busy, I would make more videos." [first clause: subjunctive] + [second clause: conditional] Some would see this next example as [indicative: main clause] + [subjunctive: noun clause]. "I suggest that we listen to different news sources."

[@hilalahmad7286]

@@Englishwithjennifer Thanks Jennifer for your detailed explanation! I really appreciate it! Let me tell you this you are knowledge personified. Take care!

[@corynicolas3175]

Nice video!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thanks!

[@raikko4984]

Muito bom!!! Very good!!!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

I'm glad you liked it.

[@ansaristeaching3024]

Smart teaching

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for the support.

[@stunninglad1]

In this informative lesson, we learned many ways to word sentences. It is not always easy to choose the one that fits the situation the best. If it were a good idea, I would say so. Were you also working in Arbroath that year? - If I was, I do not remember it. We also saw examples of when the demonstrative can be omitted in the noun clause: He insisted that we obeyed the rules. He insisted we obeyed the rules. Note how "that" cannot always be dropped. For example, I think that is a good idea.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

You hit upon a good grammar point because it's tricky. "That" can be used different ways. 1. as a demonstrative adjective: I like that movie. (Which movie?) 2. as a demonstrative pronoun: I don't want this. I want that. 3. as part of a noun clause: I suggest that we talk about this more. 4. as a relative pronoun: I like the quizzes that you create. We can drop it in #3, but not in #1 and #2. If the relative pronoun is an object pronoun in an identifying clause, we can drop it, as in #4.

[@stunninglad1]

@@Englishwithjennifer Thank you. Great information there.

[@ThiagoRodrigues-il8vs]

Hi Jennifer. Me again. An advice that coud lead to happiness? I don't know if I can. But I'll try it. I suggest that you not chase happiness with a bucket list. Items such as - I need to have a love - I need to be rich - I need to have children - I need to save the planet I recommend not overwhelming your life with goals, because even if you reach them, some days into that, you'll not be completely satisfied and you'll try to find another goal to give more importance to your life. In the end of the day, you are only struggling when the only thing that matters is to be alive and have some health. I know it's easier said than done. But I try to live this way. Thank you very much!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hi Thiago. Thank you for sharing your advice and your thoughts. It's not an easy question to answer, is it? Also, as you said, it's always easier said than done. Let's take some of your ideas and use structures from our lesson: It's important to have love. It's important that we learn to love and be loved. For some of us, it is highly desirable to have children and invest in family. It is necessary that we all earn enough to make a living. Many of us wish we were rich (though that likely comes with other problems). It is crucial that we protect the planet and care for the environment. Thiago recommends not overwhelming ourselves with goals. Thiago recommends that we limit how many goals we set. ...So true! A student and Patreon member recommended a book to me called Atomic Habits. A couple others on Patreon read it as well. There is some good advice in it. One idea is that we should focus on enjoying the journey. The author says it's important that we have a positive experience through our daily habits. If we focus too much on achieving our ultimate goal, then we limit our happiness to a distant future point and fail to experience full happiness in the present. Isn't that true?

[@ukidding]

I wish that I had the same subjunctive skills as you.😢

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Practice with me. Write another example of your own. Here are mine: If I were an actress, I would choose movies instead of plays. I wish I could travel more. He spoke as if he had been there, but I know he never had. It is important that everyone continue with their studies.

[@cloudwalker1]

Hello , Mam you gave this example . I ask that you be patient . (subjunctive mood) Did we replace " Are " in the above example I ask that you are patient?

[@Englishwithjennifer]

The possible options for this request are: 1. I ask that you be patient. 2. I ask you to be patient. /I am asking you to be patient. 3. I ask for your patience. 4. Please be patient. 5. I kindly request your patience. The clause "that you are patient" doesn't fit this request. You can use it as a fact or truth: I know that you are patient. I see that you are patient. I acknowledge that you are patient. Etc.

[@andreagiraldomdphd.8376]

It's been a splendid lesson. Dear Prof, what do you think about using "should " after that? Let me say an example: It's important that she should go to the appointment. Love you . Sei la piu' brava in assoluto. A

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for the ongoing support, Andrea. Yes, some speakers use "should" in such structures. It's a pattern more common in British English. I don't use it. Take care!

[@williamssharon3908]

I wrote, "We insist that their coworkers be shown respect." Can you tell me why this construction is incorrect for turning active to passive (Quiz 2)?

[@Englishwithjennifer]

I made the direct object the subject of the passive sentence: respect. You made the indirect object the subject of the passive sentence: coworkers. It's okay. :)

[@williamssharon3908]

@@Englishwithjennifer thank you so much, Jennifer! 👍

[@cahyaegaananda4044]

Hi Jennifer Thanks a lot for this video. It's really useful for me. But I keep struggling, would you mind to answer my question? How we know in the grammar exercises to make different active and passive form in the subjunctive mood. My teacher give me a quiz related to active-passive in the subjunctive and I struggle to fill in the blank.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hi. I'm happy the lesson was useful. This lesson may help you understand when to use the active voice and when to use the passive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4vUmmupeK2Ipqc If you use the passive, your focus is on the action received and was received that action, not on the agent/doer. a) The school requires that all students wear the standard uniform. [active, focus on "students" - the doer] b) The school requires that the standard uniform be worn. [passive, focus on "uniform" - The uniform receives the action.]

[@cahyaegaananda4044]

@@Englishwithjennifer Thanks a million

[@mustaphapeterson6752]

Thank you so much. Please our Teacher! I have a question and I would like you to answer it to me please. Which one is correct, 1) The passing exams' day. 2) A passing exams' day. 3) passing exams' day

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hello. I'm not sure why you need "passing" in that phrase. I think it's more common and natural to talk about exam day. You can use "exam" as a noun modifier. This lesson may be useful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6XEgX6Li82ffas

[@gaMEXDavid]

please I need help, what's correct?: I insisted that the plane FLY higher. I insisted that the plane FLEW higher. Many thanks!! 🙏

[@Englishwithjennifer]

1. You want the pilot to fly at a higher altitude: (subjunctive) I insisted that the plane fly higher. 2. You are certain that what you saw is correct. Someone said the plane flew at a low altitude, but you know it that's not so. (reported speech) I insisted that the plane flew (OR had flown OR had been flying) higher.

[@skdwivedi9969]

Good 👍 👍 👍 👍 👍

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for watching.

[@samin21]

Mam This is also include in mood or not When it is include "It is still time " after this which tense use

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Be sure not to confuse mood with tense. There are two tenses: past and present.

[@hassanelaaroussi6591]

Good Luck my dear

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you.

[@elnazshaterian1125]

🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻❤️

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for watching.

[@omidzakeri7393]

Hi there Jennifer hope you're doing well. Could you please make pdf notes for each lesson in youtube channel? I'll appreciate for that Thanks a lot.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hello. At this point, I have several hundred videos, so it would be hard to created PDFs for all of them. However, I review many topics via my KZbin membership program. I share links to old videos with NEW practice tasks twice a week. We often focus on grammar. Also, on Patreon we have live classes and more practice tasks (writing, speaking/recording, and listening quizzes). There are plenty of opportunities for review and practice. This month the focus is on grammar.

[@megaJBCM]

Is this Correct: 'SHE IS WEARING A BLUE HAIR' can you use the word wear when talking or describing the color of hair??

[@Englishwithjennifer]

No, say, "She has blue hair." You can also use the verb "dye": She dyed her hair blue.

[@megaJBCM]

@@Englishwithjennifer I see, because I got confused when I read some online articles like ' Women who choose to wear a very Red hair' or They are many icons wearing very red hair' Or wearing make up.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

We wear makeup. We dye or color our hair.

[@aminemaravalo31]

naturaly beauty 100%

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thank you for watching.

[@aminemaravalo31]

welcomm dear

[@evankhan8257]

What's the difference between mood & mode 🙂 Tell me ?🥴

[@Englishwithjennifer]

In grammar, "mood" is different from tense or voice. Tense refers to time: past and present. Voice refers to passive or active. The subjunctive mood captures the intention of the speaker, for example, to impose their will on another by asking, requesting, insisting, demanding, etc. The imperative is also a mood. I think some use "mode" in place of mood. I prefer "mood."

[@evankhan8257]

Oh you mean ⏲️ same thing

[@EmersonRocha422]

Para uma pessoa aprender,realmente,um idioma, teria que viver no país onde esse idioma é falado. Ficaria bem mais fácil.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Thanks to the internet, we can immerse ourselves quite well in a language that we're learning. :)

[@yuliamarkina611]

Hi Jennifer! Thanks a lot for this video. It was really useful! Would you mind answering my question which is not on this topic? I struggle to understand why we cannot use "used to" in the sentence like "I lived in France for three years". I wonder if it's because of 'for' or the period of time "three years" is too short for this structure?

[@Englishwithjennifer]

You can use the present perfect if you still live there: I've lived in France for three years. You can use the simple past if you no longer live there: I lived in France for three years. "Used to" is for general habits in the past without naming a specific time. It can be a time period. When I was a child, I used to have a toy cat. Back in high school, I used to take flute lessons.

[@espiriobelmontes4342]

Hi biutyful 😘

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Hello!

[@EmersonRocha422]

Hi, Jennifer. How are you?

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Good! And you?

[@EmersonRocha422]

@@Englishwithjennifer good

[@alpharum3141592]

I think that using c*v*d or va****e sentences (although work as examples of subjunctive mood) is not good. A lot of people received too unfair troubles because of confusing illogical mandatories, and the worst part is happening about the 'cure'. That's why someone who has lived like that may feel upset

[@Englishwithjennifer]

It certainly wasn't my intention to hurt or offend anyone with that example. However, I need to choose contexts that are relevant to viewers. Mandates and restrictions are sensitive points, indeed, but we need to be able to understand the language being used around us. Formal grammar won't be encountered in casual conversation. I hope that you understand my reasoning. Thank you for commenting.

[@alpharum3141592]

@@Englishwithjennifer You're right, Jennifer, and indeed, you didn't try to offend anyone; in fact, I wrote this comment because I thought that everyone should know the mandates don't solve the 'problem' Thanks for your answer, greetings from Spain

[@user-lx4ox9yx2i]

I suggest that you fill your life with meaning.

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Good example.

[@williamssharon3908]

It's crucial for me to eat a low fat diet! I insist that you be punctual!

[@Englishwithjennifer]

Good examples.