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Course: French English Spanish Greek
Explanations in: Greek English Spanish French
C1

The English subjunctive and inverted conditionals

I suggest he be, it's essential that she attend, Should you need, Were I to, Had I known.

The subjunctive (base form)

After verbs and expressions of demand or recommendation (suggest, recommend, insist, demand, require, it is essential / vital / important that), formal English uses the base form for every person, with no -s and no «do» in the negative.

  • I suggest that he be present.
    be, not «is»
  • It is essential that she attend the meeting.
    attend, not «attends»
  • They insisted that he not leave.
    not + base, no «doesn't»

Inverted conditionals (formal)

StandardInverted
If you should need help, call me.Should you need help, call me.
If I were to accept, …Were I to accept, …
If I had known, I would have come.Had I known, I would have come.

Test yourself

  1. Complete: The doctor recommended that she (rest).
    Show answer
    rest
  2. Rewrite: If you should have any questions, contact us. (Should…)
    Show answer
    Should you have any questions, contact us.
  3. Rewrite: If I had known the truth, I would have acted. (Had…)
    Show answer
    Had I known the truth, I would have acted.
  4. Rewrite: If he were to resign, … (Were…)
    Show answer
    Were he to resign, …