The subjunctive mood
PROCEDURALUse the subjunctive form in formal writing and speech to express wishes, demands, suggestions, or hypothetical situations (e.g., 'If I were you', 'I suggest that he go', 'Were they to arrive')
Mastery Evidence
- Write sentences using 'If I were' to express hypothetical conditions
- Transform informal sentences into formal equivalents using subjunctive forms such as 'I recommend that she attend'
- Identify subjunctive mood in formal texts such as legal documents or formal letters
Assessment Prompt
“When [child] writes a formal letter or a persuasive essay, can they use phrases like "If I were in charge…" or "The school suggests that every pupil attend…" to sound more formal and precise?”
Curriculum Standards2 alignments
Eng.App2.Y6.Sent.2The national curriculum in EnglandThe difference between structures typical of informal speech and structures appropriate for formal speech and writing [for example, the use of question tags: He’s your friend, isn’t he?, or the use of subjunctive forms such as If I were or Were they to come in some very formal writing and speech]
Eng.UKS2.Write.VGP.1aThe national curriculum in EnglandDevelop their understanding of the concepts set out in English Appendix 2 by recognising vocabulary and structures that are appropriate for formal speech and writing, including subjunctive forms.
Prerequisites1
- Subordinate clauseshardAges 6—9
Show full prerequisite tree
- Subordinate clauses hard
Subjunctive forms build on understanding of subordination and clause structure
- Joining Words with 'And' hard
Must be able to join with 'and' before learning subordination and other co-ordinating conjunctions
Unlocks1
- Verb Voice and MoodhardAges 12—14