October 23, 2025 • 10 mins
I suggest you listen carefully to this podcast. And if you’re with a friend right now, I suggest he listen carefully as well. Or she listen carefully. I mean, if I were you, I’d definitely stick around for this one.
Today we’re diving into a part of English grammar that doesn’t follow the usual rules - but native speakers use it all the time without thinking twice. Especially in American English. It’s called the subjunctive mood - and while that might sound technical or tricky, it’s actually pretty simple once you know how it works. So today, I’ll walk you through four common ways we use the subjunctive - all with real-life, everyday examples.
Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://myhappyenglish.com/plsg
Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
My AI English Tutor is HERE
Today we’re diving into a part of English grammar that doesn’t follow the usual rules - but native speakers use it all the time without thinking twice. Especially in American English. It’s called the subjunctive mood - and while that might sound technical or tricky, it’s actually pretty simple once you know how it works. So today, I’ll walk you through four common ways we use the subjunctive - all with real-life, everyday examples.
Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://myhappyenglish.com/plsg
Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
My AI English Tutor is HERE
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I suggest you listen carefully to this podcast. And if
you're with a friend right now, I suggest he listened
carefully or she listened carefully as well. I mean, if
I were you, I definitely stick around for this one.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to another Happy English podcast, coming to you from
New York City. And here's your English teacher, Michael.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
All right, thank you, Jan, and thanks everyone. It's Michael
here from Happy English and I help people speak English better.
And this is Happy English Podcast, Episode nine to eleven,
Understanding and using the subjective mood in English. Thanks for
(00:54):
tuning in and welcome back. So let me ask you something.
Have you ever heard some one say if I were
you and thought, hmmm, shouldn't it be if I was you?
Or maybe you've seen a sentence like it's important that
he be here on time and wondered, wait, shouldn't it
(01:17):
be is he is? He'd be? Well? Today, we're diving
into a part of English grammar that doesn't follow the
usual rules, but native speakers use it all the time
without thinking twice, especially in American English. It's called the
(01:38):
subjunctive mood. Hmm sounds scary, And while that may sound
technical or tricky, it's actually pretty simple once you know
how it works. So today I'll walk you through four
common ways we use the subjunctive, all with real life,
everyday examples. Let's jump in. First of all, we use
(02:04):
the subjective mood for unreal or hypothetical situations. Have you
ever said or heard something like if I were rich,
or if he were taller. That's the subjunctive in action. Now,
normally we say things like I was tired, she was happy.
(02:25):
That's the regular past tense, no problem, right, But when
we talk about something that's imaginary or hypothetical, we use
war instead of was, no matter what the subject is,
like if I were you, I'd take a day off,
(02:47):
or if he were taller he could join the basketball team,
or if she were here right now, she'd be laughing
if I were, if if he were, if she were.
And again, it's not the past tense, it's imaginary or hypothetical.
(03:08):
It's just English being well English. But the good news
is this pattern is super common and it sounds natural
once you get used to it. Now, here's another place
we use the subjunctive when we talk about wishes. You
know that feeling when you want something to be different,
(03:31):
But it's not like I wish I had a dog,
or I wish it weren't raining today. Yeah, we use
the subjunctive in these situations too, like I wish I
were taller. Yeah you heard that, right, I wish I were,
or she wishes she were better at public speaking, or
(03:57):
like what your coworker says on Wednesday is don't you
wish it were Friday? Already you'll notice again war not was.
Even if the subject is I, we say I wish
I were. This is one of those small things that
(04:18):
makes your English sound just a little more polished. All right,
fasten your seatbelts because the next one may surprise or
even shock you. We use the subjunctive mood after verbs
like suggest, recommend, demand, and insist, and after phrases like
(04:43):
it's important that This happens a lot in business, formal
emails and even news reports, like I told my boss
that Jack has a fever, and the boss said, I
suggest he take the day off. Yeah you heard that, right,
(05:04):
I suggest he take not he takes I suggest he
take a day off. Here's another example. Notice the verb
the manager insisted that she be on time? She be, yeah,
(05:25):
Or it's important that everyone be prepared for the exam
on Friday. And again, notice I didn't say he takes
or she is. We drop the s and just use
the base verb. I suggest he take the day off.
The manager insisted that she be on time. Yeah, we
(05:51):
also do this with the base verb, like it's essential
that she be informed, or they demanded he be removed
from the group chat. My doctor recommended that I rest now,
(06:11):
I'll be honest with you in casual conversation. Some people
don't always follow this rule. You might hear it's important
that he is here, and that's totally fine and spoken English,
but knowing how the subjunctive works will help you understand
(06:32):
and sound more natural, especially when things get a little formal. Okay, Finally,
there are a few fixed phrases that use the subjunctive,
and they're kind of fun. Be that as it may,
which we use to acknowledge something while suggesting it doesn't
(06:53):
change your opinion, like yeah, I know we're busy, but
be that as it may. We still have to finish
the project or if need be, which means if it's
necessary and is very common in formal or polite speech,
like we can stay late to finish if need be.
(07:18):
Heaven help us. This is a dramatic way to say
we're in trouble, or to express worry, like if we
lose power again during the storm, Heaven help us. Truth
be told. This is a fancy way to say to
be honest, like truth be told. I wasn't really ready
(07:42):
for the exam. I should have studied more and then.
Probably the most well known subjunctive phrase thanks to the Beatles,
is let it be, which is a way of saying,
don't change it or accept it the way it is now.
Some of these sound old school or poetic, but they're
(08:07):
still used in English, especially in formal speech, music, or
dramatic moments. So what did we learn today? The subjunctive
mood shows up when we're talking about imaginary or real situations.
If I were you, I'd study for that test. Wishes
(08:32):
about the present, I wish it were some aer already.
That's just an example. Suggestions, demands and formal advice. It's
important that she be on time, she be and fixed
expressions like Heaven forbid or so be it. It's a
(08:57):
cool little part of English grammar that adds and confidence
to your speech. And now you know how to use it.
So here's your challenge, make three sentences this week using
this subjunctive mood and use it in conversation. Maybe say
something like if I were a cat, I'd sleep all day,
(09:18):
or it's essential that I'd be on time for work,
or I wish I were a better cook. And if
you want to practice using grammar like this naturally, come
join the podcast Learner's study Group. We meet once a
week and go over these podcast lessons together. It's a
(09:40):
great way to build confidence and improve your speaking. Just
check the link where you're listening right now, or visit
Myhappy English dot com and choose podcast episode nine to
eleven for more info. Thanks for listening, and remember, learning
another language is not easy, but it's not impossible, and
(10:01):
I'm here to help you on your journey.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
This podcast is brought to you by Happy English. Please
visit Myhappy English dot com show your support for Happy
English by leading us a review. Get English, Get Happy,
Happy English.
I suggest you listen carefully to this podcast. And if
you're with a friend right now, I suggest he listened
carefully or she listened carefully as well. I mean, if
I were you, I definitely stick around for this one.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to another Happy English podcast, coming to you from
New York City. And here's your English teacher, Michael.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
All right, thank you, Jan, and thanks everyone. It's Michael
here from Happy English and I help people speak English better.
And this is Happy English Podcast, Episode nine to eleven,
Understanding and using the subjective mood in English. Thanks for
(00:54):
tuning in and welcome back. So let me ask you something.
Have you ever heard some one say if I were
you and thought, hmmm, shouldn't it be if I was you?
Or maybe you've seen a sentence like it's important that
he be here on time and wondered, wait, shouldn't it
(01:17):
be is he is? He'd be? Well? Today, we're diving
into a part of English grammar that doesn't follow the
usual rules, but native speakers use it all the time
without thinking twice, especially in American English. It's called the
(01:38):
subjunctive mood. Hmm sounds scary, And while that may sound
technical or tricky, it's actually pretty simple once you know
how it works. So today I'll walk you through four
common ways we use the subjunctive, all with real life,
everyday examples. Let's jump in. First of all, we use
(02:04):
the subjective mood for unreal or hypothetical situations. Have you
ever said or heard something like if I were rich,
or if he were taller. That's the subjunctive in action. Now,
normally we say things like I was tired, she was happy.
(02:25):
That's the regular past tense, no problem, right, But when
we talk about something that's imaginary or hypothetical, we use
war instead of was, no matter what the subject is,
like if I were you, I'd take a day off,
(02:47):
or if he were taller he could join the basketball team,
or if she were here right now, she'd be laughing
if I were, if if he were, if she were.
And again, it's not the past tense, it's imaginary or hypothetical.
(03:08):
It's just English being well English. But the good news
is this pattern is super common and it sounds natural
once you get used to it. Now, here's another place
we use the subjunctive when we talk about wishes. You
know that feeling when you want something to be different,
(03:31):
But it's not like I wish I had a dog,
or I wish it weren't raining today. Yeah, we use
the subjunctive in these situations too, like I wish I
were taller. Yeah you heard that, right, I wish I were,
or she wishes she were better at public speaking, or
(03:57):
like what your coworker says on Wednesday is don't you
wish it were Friday? Already you'll notice again war not was.
Even if the subject is I, we say I wish
I were. This is one of those small things that
(04:18):
makes your English sound just a little more polished. All right,
fasten your seatbelts because the next one may surprise or
even shock you. We use the subjunctive mood after verbs
like suggest, recommend, demand, and insist, and after phrases like
(04:43):
it's important that This happens a lot in business, formal
emails and even news reports, like I told my boss
that Jack has a fever, and the boss said, I
suggest he take the day off. Yeah you heard that, right,
(05:04):
I suggest he take not he takes I suggest he
take a day off. Here's another example. Notice the verb
the manager insisted that she be on time? She be, yeah,
(05:25):
Or it's important that everyone be prepared for the exam
on Friday. And again, notice I didn't say he takes
or she is. We drop the s and just use
the base verb. I suggest he take the day off.
The manager insisted that she be on time. Yeah, we
(05:51):
also do this with the base verb, like it's essential
that she be informed, or they demanded he be removed
from the group chat. My doctor recommended that I rest now,
(06:11):
I'll be honest with you in casual conversation. Some people
don't always follow this rule. You might hear it's important
that he is here, and that's totally fine and spoken English,
but knowing how the subjunctive works will help you understand
(06:32):
and sound more natural, especially when things get a little formal. Okay, Finally,
there are a few fixed phrases that use the subjunctive,
and they're kind of fun. Be that as it may,
which we use to acknowledge something while suggesting it doesn't
(06:53):
change your opinion, like yeah, I know we're busy, but
be that as it may. We still have to finish
the project or if need be, which means if it's
necessary and is very common in formal or polite speech,
like we can stay late to finish if need be.
(07:18):
Heaven help us. This is a dramatic way to say
we're in trouble, or to express worry, like if we
lose power again during the storm, Heaven help us. Truth
be told. This is a fancy way to say to
be honest, like truth be told. I wasn't really ready
(07:42):
for the exam. I should have studied more and then.
Probably the most well known subjunctive phrase thanks to the Beatles,
is let it be, which is a way of saying,
don't change it or accept it the way it is now.
Some of these sound old school or poetic, but they're
(08:07):
still used in English, especially in formal speech, music, or
dramatic moments. So what did we learn today? The subjunctive
mood shows up when we're talking about imaginary or real situations.
If I were you, I'd study for that test. Wishes
(08:32):
about the present, I wish it were some aer already.
That's just an example. Suggestions, demands and formal advice. It's
important that she be on time, she be and fixed
expressions like Heaven forbid or so be it. It's a
(08:57):
cool little part of English grammar that adds and confidence
to your speech. And now you know how to use it.
So here's your challenge, make three sentences this week using
this subjunctive mood and use it in conversation. Maybe say
something like if I were a cat, I'd sleep all day,
(09:18):
or it's essential that I'd be on time for work,
or I wish I were a better cook. And if
you want to practice using grammar like this naturally, come
join the podcast Learner's study Group. We meet once a
week and go over these podcast lessons together. It's a
(09:40):
great way to build confidence and improve your speaking. Just
check the link where you're listening right now, or visit
Myhappy English dot com and choose podcast episode nine to
eleven for more info. Thanks for listening, and remember, learning
another language is not easy, but it's not impossible, and
(10:01):
I'm here to help you on your journey.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
This podcast is brought to you by Happy English. Please
visit Myhappy English dot com show your support for Happy
English by leading us a review. Get English, Get Happy,
Happy English.
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