Analyzing and Interpreting Literature / Unit 2 AIL 0132 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Subjunctive in Wishes and Commands
Captions available
The idea
Would that he were here is a wish. God save the King is a command in the same mood, with the ending dropped from save. Both are subjunctive, and neither reports anything that has happened or is happening.
In practice
Wishes and commands, not reports.
Where people slip
No ending on the verb signals it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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