The following collection of worksheets will teach your students how to identify and use subjunctives.

The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a wish, a suggestion, a command, or a condition that is contrary to fact. These activity sheets will provide short sentences and prompts in order to help your students learn how to use subjunctive verbs and phrases correctly in both present and past tense. Answer sheets have been provided for worksheets for instructors, but please note that in some cases, your students' answers will vary.

When you are trying to draw emotion into your work, this is the type of word that you want to start pushing for. The can help or hurt your story once they are in play. When grammar lessons begin to turn more complex, you want to work with a teaching tool that keeps your students motivated to learn. Past and present subjunctive moods can be a difficult grammar concept to grasp. That is, unless you download 15 interactive worksheets that implement different approaches to teaching the complicated grammar subject. Some of your students might prefer more traditional teaching methods, while other kids decide to expand their learning horizons. One lesson asks students to write down the different subjunctive moods for "to be" and "as if."



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Printable Subjunctives Worksheets

Click the buttons to print each worksheet and answer key.

Present Subjunctive Mood Worksheet

Present Subjunctive Mood

The present subjunctive is formed with the base form of a verb. It only occurs in noun clauses beginning with the word "that." They follow nouns, verbs, or adjectives that express suggestions, commands, or requests. To make a subjunctive clause negative, add not before the subjunctive verb.

Present Subjunctive Worksheet

The Present Subjunctive

Circle the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

Mistaken Worksheet

Am I Mistaken?

Underline the mistakes in each sentence. Correct each sentence by rewriting it with a present subjunctive verb.

Original Writing Worksheet

Original Writing

Write an original sentence using each verb. Use the present subjunctive tense.

Subjunctive Worksheet

Writing with the Present Subjunctive

Write an original sentence using each verb. Use the present subjunctive tense.

Past Subjunctive Worksheet

Past Subjunctive Mood

Match the first half of each sentence with its second half.

Past Worksheet

The Past Subjunctive

Unscramble the sentences.

Rewriting Worksheet

Rewrite the Subjunctive

Rewrite the sentences using the second conditional (using if and the past subjunctive.)

Past Words Worksheet

The Past Words

Rewrite the sentences using the second conditional (using if and the past subjunctive.)

Writing with the Past Worksheet

Writing with the Past Subjunctive

Answer the questions. Use complete sentences that employ the past subjunctive.

Subjunctive vs. Indicative Worksheet

Subjunctive vs. Indicative

Write two of your own sentences using the present subjunctive tense for third person singular subjects.

Two Sentences Worksheet

Write Two Sentences and Then Two More

Write two of your own sentences using the present subjunctive tense for the verb "to be."

Writing Worksheet

Writing with Subjunctives

Write an original sentence using the present subjunctive tense for third person singular subjects.

Subjunctive Tense Worksheet

The Subjunctive Tense

Circle the correct verb form to complete each sentence. HINT: not every sentence requires the subjunctive.

Sentence Moods Worksheet

Changing Sentence Moods

Read each sentence below. Create related sentences as directed by changing the mood of the verb.

Original Worksheet

Be An Original

Rewrite the sentences using the second conditional (using if and the past subjunctive.)

Cat Worksheet

Talk About the Cat

Write an original sentence using each verb. Use the present subjunctive tense.

Cat Worksheet

Monster Rampage in the Present Subjunctive

Circle the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

Subjunctive Mood Worksheet

Past Subjunctive Mood

Match the first half of each sentence with its second half.

Past Subjunctive Worksheet

The Past Subjunctive

The past subjunctive is formed with the past form of a verb that describes a state, condition, or habit. It is used to talk about hypothetical or imaginary situation.

Past Subjunctive Worksheet

The Past Subjunctive

Rewrite the sentences using the second conditional (using “if” and the past subjunctive.)

Subjunctive Mood Worksheet

Present Subjunctive Mood

Match the first half of each sentence with its second half.

Present Subjunctive Worksheet

The Present Subjunctive

Circle the correct verb form to complete each sentence.

Present Subjunctive Worksheet

The Present Subjunctive

Underline the mistakes in each sentence. Correct each sentence by rewriting it with a present subjunctive verb.

Past Worksheet

The Past Subjunctive

Write an original sentence using each verb. Use the present subjunctive tense.

Writing in the Past Worksheet

Writing with the Past Subjunctive

Answer the questions. Use complete sentences that employ the past subjunctive.

Conditional Mood Worksheet

Choosing the Subjunctive or Conditional Mood

Complete the sentences below with the correct subjunctive or conditional mood.

Sentence Worksheet

Complete The Sentences

You just need one word to finish all these up.

Subjunctive Mood Worksheet

Writing in the Subjunctive Mood

Write an original sentence using the present subjunctive tense for third person singular subjects.

Subjunctive Tense Worksheet

The Subjunctive Tense

Circle the correct verb form to complete each sentence. HINT: not every sentence requires the subjunctive.

Sentence Mood Worksheet

Changing Sentence Moods

Read each sentence below. Create related sentences as directed by changing the mood of the verb.

Past Subjunctive Worksheet

The Past Subjunctive

Rewrite the sentences using the second conditional (using if and the past subjunctive.)

What Are Subjunctives?

Did you know that languages also have moods? Etymologically speaking, it's not the kind of mood that relays emotions; rather, it's a grammatical mood concerning verbs and what they express. It might be hard to grasp the concept when we put it like that, but we're talking about subjunctives.

Learning about them can help young students to develop a firm grasp of a particular language, which in this case is English. So, let's start by understanding the concept behind subjunctives.

How Does Mood Play Into This?

Subjunctives are rare and specific verb forms used to express wishes, demands, desires, or suggestions in a sentence – the subjunctive mood. These sentences typically have two clauses, and the subjunctive verb helps us understand what the sentence is doing, whether it's giving suggestions, commands, or simply making a statement.

To understand what subjunctives are, think of them as base forms of verbs that are not inflected for different persons or things, such as: be, were, visit, work, and do. Let's look at the following sentence:

It is important that they are present at the meeting

Here, the verb be is replaced by the third person plural indicative are. We can write the same sentence using subjunctives:

It is important they be present at the meeting

Here, the verb be is not inflected to an indicative form and functions as the subjunctive.

The most common examples of subjunctives include the verbs be and were, which are used to explore hypothetical situations (if that were to happen) or make demands, wishes, and suggestions (I demanded that she be present).

Examples

It is important to understand that the subjunctive mood is not only established by using different verbs. Several adjectives also attract the subjunctive mood, enabling the use of subjunctive verb forms like be and were.

Let's look at a few examples.

Verbs Affecting Mood

The subjunctive mood can be attracted using the following verbs: to insist, to demand, to suggest, and to wish. Here are some examples of subjunctives being used with these indicative verbs:

- Oh, how I wish I were a famous athlete.

- They insisted that he be aware of the charges pressed against him.

- Gandalf suggested that they take the mountain pass.

- The protesters demanded that the councilperson be present at the conference.

Here, the subjunctive forms be, were, and take have been used instead of the following normal forms: was, is/are, should take.

Adjectives and Nouns Affecting the Mood

Using the following adjectives can also change the mood from indicative to subjunctive: essential, necessary, imperative.

- It is imperative that the students learn the first chapter of human anatomy.

- She said it was necessary that Rob be present at the annual meeting.

- I'm telling you guys, it's essential to take your time learning this concept.

Are There Other Moods?

Now that you have some grasp over the subjunctive mood, let's briefly discuss some other examples. The English language has three moods. We've learned about the first one, so let's explore the other two:

Indicative Mood

While the subjunctive mood shows a wish or doubt, the indicative mood is used to state facts or answer questions, such as:

- He's playing baseball.

- She has gone out with her friends to the party.

- Has she gone out with her friends?

- Is he playing baseball?

Note how the sentence does not make a suggestion, demand, or wish like in the subjunctive mood.

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood can be used interchangeably with the subjunctive mood to express a command or a request. Here are some examples:

Imperative Mood Subjunctive Mood
Please join the company! They requested that they join the company.
Tara, do not go to the park after nightfall! Tara was instructed not to visit the park after nightfall.

Conclusion

We use the subjunctive mood quite frequently in our daily conversations, but it can be difficult to grasp our heads around the concept. We hope our article better helps you understand what subjunctives are and how they can be used to increase our understanding of the English language. Subjunctives are essential learning tools that help children develop a better grasp of the language!