In my last blogpost, I talked about the Subjunctive Mood, and noted that there are 4 classifications within it. To refresh ourselves once more on those 4 matters of subjunctive expression, as well as the Imperative and Indicative, here they are defined, again:
Imperative — shown in a command, direction, or request
Indicative — shown in a statement or question
Subjunctive — shown in a suggestion of
Possibility
Speculation
Urgency
Formality
Within the definitions of Subjunctive Mood, last week I mostly went over a.) Possibility, and b.) Speculation. But what about c.) Urgency, and d.) Formality? As I mentioned briefly before, these latter 2 subjunctives concern things that are not yet, but through urgency or formal recommendation “assert that possibility become probability.”
Here’s an example of Subjunctive Urgency:
(Indicative:) “Is it possible I can talk with him tonight?”
(Indicative:) “I don’t think he has time.”
(Subjunctive:) “Then, I demand he talk to me now!”
Okay, but that last sentence sounds like a command, so wouldn’t it be classified as an imperative?
You’d think so, but “I demand” is a statement of action, not a request made directly to the audience, as would be “(You) talk to me.” The imperative mood is reserved for direct command. Also, urgency makes the mood subjunctive, which changes the verb form to “he talk,” whereas in the indicative verb form it would be “he talks/he talks to me.”
Now that you get how that variation of the subjunctive works, I bet you can’t wait to learn more about Subjunctive Formality. Still with me?
To be, or not to be: That is the Formality.
This is when the Indicative Mood (is/are) changes to the Subjunctive Mood — when it’s still a future probability.
(Subjunctive:) “In my last blogpost, I suggested that this topic be continued this week.”
(Indicative:) “At that time, it wasn’t continued.”
(Indicative:) “Right. And now, here, it is continued.”
(Indicative:) “Is this topic going to continue?”
(Indicative:) “I think it’s continued long enough for our readers to get the general idea.”
(Imperative/Subjunctive:) “I get it, too: ‘Let there be light!’”
(Indicative/Subjunctive:) “That actually works if you remember it’s the verb form of “to be,” itself, that’s changed, and not the relationship of the noun, “light” . . . like the Beatles’ song, “Let It Be”, which might have been titled “It Is”, if it were in the Indicative Mood. Another way to show how “let there be” works as a helping verb in the subjunctive, is to revise the quote to ‘Let there be’ lit a candle. Or some such. Again, it’s the verb form that changes in the Subjunctive Mood.”
I hope that was more fun than confusing. English be a many splendored thing . . .
Let it be that you keep coming back on Feature Fridays to discover more of that splendor.