sub·junc·tive
səb-ˈjən(k)-tiv 
: of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or set of verb forms that represents a denoted act or state not as fact but as contingent or possible or viewed emotionally (as with doubt or desire)
the subjunctive mood
1
: the subjunctive mood of a language
2
: a form of verb or verbal in the subjunctive mood
Examples of subjunctive in a Sentence
Adjective
In “I wish it were Friday,” the verb “were” is in the subjunctive mood.
Noun
“I wish it were not so” is in the subjunctive.
Subjunctives can be used to express doubt.
Recent Examples on the Web
Vulture, 6 May 2022
Clearly, the headline calls for the subjunctive mood: If Putin Were a Woman.
—WSJ, 10 July 2022
Otherwise, subjunctive verb forms are indistinguishable from indicative ones.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2020
This gave Ryan Coogler free rein to create a country in the subjunctive mode: what if…?
—The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2019
The author has to sneak away from his seat to consult Reagan letters, diaries and biographies to fortify what is essentially a subjunctive enterprise.
—Thomas Mallon, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2018
New York Times, 11 Jan. 2022
These new thoughts flooded in, leaving little room for concerns about Othello’s motivation or the subjunctive in French.
—New York Times, 13 May 2021
But the phrase is often used with the subjunctive, that word or phrase that indicates doubt: one mistake should not define me.
—Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2021
Fewer and fewer speakers are as meticulous about the subjunctive as Beyoncé.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2020
The dreaded subjunctive indicates that something is not being asserted as true and this turns out to be difficult to learn when that is not an important distinction in your own language.
—Michelle Sheehan, Quartz, 3 July 2019
Batuman writes; Nina’s reality remains untroubled by conditionals and subjunctives.
—Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, 20 Mar. 2017
To avoid the complicated subjunctive, which expresses wishes and hopes.
—Diana Spechler, Longreads, 28 Oct. 2017
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Adjective
Getting the subjunctive mood involved doesn’t sound like full-throated approval.
—Vulture, 6 May 2022
Clearly, the headline calls for the subjunctive mood: If Putin Were a Woman.
—WSJ, 10 July 2022
Otherwise, subjunctive verb forms are indistinguishable from indicative ones.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2020
This gave Ryan Coogler free rein to create a country in the subjunctive mode: what if…?
—The New York Review of Books, 2 Mar. 2019
The author has to sneak away from his seat to consult Reagan letters, diaries and biographies to fortify what is essentially a subjunctive enterprise.
—Thomas Mallon, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2018
Noun
The body cannot live in the subjunctive, unfortunately.
—New York Times, 11 Jan. 2022
These new thoughts flooded in, leaving little room for concerns about Othello’s motivation or the subjunctive in French.
—New York Times, 13 May 2021
But the phrase is often used with the subjunctive, that word or phrase that indicates doubt: one mistake should not define me.
—Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2021
Fewer and fewer speakers are as meticulous about the subjunctive as Beyoncé.
—Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2020
The dreaded subjunctive indicates that something is not being asserted as true and this turns out to be difficult to learn when that is not an important distinction in your own language.
—Michelle Sheehan, Quartz, 3 July 2019
Batuman writes; Nina’s reality remains untroubled by conditionals and subjunctives.
—Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, 20 Mar. 2017
To avoid the complicated subjunctive, which expresses wishes and hopes.
—Diana Spechler, Longreads, 28 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Subjunctive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subjunctive. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
subjunctive
1 of 2 adjective
sub·junc·tive
səb-ˈjəŋ(k)-tiv
: of, relating to, or being a verb form that represents an act or state not as fact but as conditional or possible or viewed emotionally (as with doubt or desire)
the verb "were" is in the subjunctive mood in "if I were you, I wouldn't go"
subjunctive
2 of 2 noun
: the subjunctive mood of a verb or a verb in this mood
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