The past subjunctive in English : complete course

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The past subjunctive in English [B2] — VocaVerb

What Is the Past Subjunctive in English?

The past subjunctive is a verb form used in English to talk about hypothetical situations, wishes, or conditions that are contrary to reality. It refers to situations that are imagined, not real, or unlikely to happen. Even though it is called ‘past’, it often refers to present or general situations, not just past events.

Simple Examples to Get Started

  • If I were rich, I would travel the world. (I am not rich.)
  • She wishes she knew the answer. (She does not know the answer.)
  • He acts as if he were the boss. (He is not the boss.)

Notice how the verb form changes to express something unreal or imagined. This is the past subjunctive at work.

The Key Elements of the Past Subjunctive in English

Let us break down the main components of this grammar structure so it becomes easier to understand and use.

1. The Verb ‘To Be’: Use ‘Were’ for All Subjects

In the past subjunctive, the verb to be always becomes were, regardless of the subject. This is one of the most important rules to remember.

Subject Normal Past Past Subjunctive
I was were
He / She / It was were
You / We / They were were
  • If she were here, everything would be better.
  • I wish I were taller.
  • If he were more careful, he would not make mistakes.

Note: In informal spoken English, some people say ‘was’ instead of ‘were’. However, ‘were’ is the correct form in formal and written English.

2. Other Verbs: Use the Simple Past Form

For all other verbs (not ‘to be’), you simply use the simple past form to create the past subjunctive.

  • If I had more time, I would learn a new language.
  • She wishes she spoke better English.
  • If they lived closer, we would see them more often.

3. Common Structures That Trigger the Past Subjunctive

The past subjunctive usually appears in specific sentence patterns. Here are the most common ones:

Structure Example
If + subject + past subjunctive If I were you, I would apologise.
I wish + subject + past subjunctive I wish he called more often.
As if / as though + past subjunctive She talks as if she knew everything.
It is time + subject + past subjunctive It is time you went to bed.

Why the Past Subjunctive Matters

You might be wondering: do I really need to learn this? The answer is yes, and here is why.

The past subjunctive helps you express yourself more naturally and precisely in English. Without it, it can be hard to explain your dreams, give advice, or talk about imaginary situations. These are things we do every day in conversation.

  • Giving advice: ‘If I were you, I would not do that.’
  • Expressing a wish: ‘I wish I had a bigger apartment.’
  • Imagining a different reality: ‘If she were president, things would change.’

Mastering this structure will make your English sound much more fluent and natural.

Comparison with Other Languages

If you speak French or Spanish, you already know the subjunctive well. Let us compare how each language handles this concept.

Language Example Notes
English If I were rich, I would travel. Uses simple past form; ‘were’ for all subjects with ‘to be’
French Si j’étais riche, je voyagerais. Uses the imperfect tense (imparfait) for hypothetical conditions
Spanish Si fuera rico, viajaría. Uses the imperfect subjunctive (subjuntivo imperfecto)

In all three languages, the idea is the same: you use a special verb form to show that something is not real. The good news is that English is actually simpler in this case, because you just use the past tense form of the verb.

A Complete Example

Let us look at a short dialogue to see how the past subjunctive works in a real context.

Anna and Ben are talking about their dream life.

  • Anna: ‘If I were a doctor, I would work in a hospital in another country.’
  • Ben: ‘Really? I wish I were more adventurous like you.’
  • Anna: ‘It is time you stopped worrying and followed your dreams!’
  • Ben: ‘I know. Sometimes I talk as if I were brave, but I am not sure.’

In this dialogue, you can see four different uses of the past subjunctive, all in natural conversation. Each one expresses something imagined or wished for, not something real.

Key Points to Remember

  • The past subjunctive is used for hypothetical, imaginary, or wished-for situations.
  • Use were for all subjects with the verb ‘to be’.
  • For all other verbs, use the simple past form.
  • Common triggers include: if, I wish, as if, as though, and it is time.
  • The past subjunctive does not always refer to the past. It often refers to the present or general situations.
  • It is simpler in English than in French or Spanish, so do not be afraid to practise it!

Sources

  • Swan, M. (2005). Practical English Usage. Oxford University Press.
  • Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., and Svartvik, J. (1985). A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman.
  • Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S., and Finegan, E. (1999). Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Pearson Education.

To practise what you learned in this lesson:

Practice exercises · Crossword puzzle

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