Subjunctive moods are used to express conditions, desires, possibilities, or hypothetical situations. They are often used in formal or literary contexts.
In English, the past subjunctive mood is a verb form used to express an action or state of being uncertain, hypothetical, or unreal in the past.
Past Subjunctive Moods Examples
Hypothetical or unreal condition:
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- If he were taller, he could reach the top shelf.
- If they had studied harder, they might have passed the exam.
- If she were older, she could drive a car.
- If he were a better singer, he would audition for the talent show.
- If she were more confident, she would speak up in meetings.
After “wish”:
- I wish I had studied more for the test.
- We wish it hadn’t rained on our wedding day.
- She wishes she could speak another language fluently.
- I wish I had taken that job offer.
- We wish we hadn’t missed the bus.
After “as if”, “as though”, “seem”, “like”, “behave”:
- He walks as if he were being followed.
- She behaves as though she were the boss.
- It seems like they had a secret plan.
- He behaves as though he had won the lottery.
- She looks as if she had seen a miracle.
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