Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 2 AIL 0125 short lesson, about 20 seconds
What the Subjunctive Is
Captions available
The idea
The subjunctive is the mood English uses for what is not the case: wishes, suppositions and conditions contrary to fact. If I were rich uses it. Modern English keeps only traces, while older writing uses it constantly.
In practice
The mood for what is not.
Where people slip
Were, not was, marks it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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