Is there a subjunctive in English?

Question

Is there a subjunctive in English like there is in Spanish?

I corrected your capitalization. - mountaingirl123, Dec 23, 2010

Answer 1

Yes, but in many cases it is morphologically similar to other tenses in the indicative. Because of this, it is often/sometimes avoided in English in favor of alternative constructions which are able to play an identical/similar semantic role.

Subjunctive	Infinitive	Modal auxiliary
It is required that he pay his own way	It is required for him to pay his own way	He must pay his own way
I wish/want that she leave me alone	I wish/want her to leave me alone	I wish/want that she would leave me alone
It is suggested that a person wishing to get into medical school take biology.	It is suggested for a person wishing to get into medical school to take biology	(It is suggested that) a person wishing to get into medical school should take biology

Answer 2

delete-already answered. Odd that to be is the verb that usually jumps to everyone's mind.

Yes, there is a subjunctive in English. Whether is is like Spanish depends on what you mean by that. The subjunctive is much less prevalent in English than in Spanish.

I was going to give it to you. (indicative)

If I were to give it to you... (subjunctive)

Good example. - KevinB, Dec 23, 2010

Answer 3

Yes, but limited. It is frequently not used. Example: You will hear "If I was rich I would travel more", but it should be "If I were rich I would travel more." Example: It is important that he listen (not "listens")

However, it is barely used and will probably be extinct in a couple of decades.

Dang. Beat me by 40 seconds. :-) - KevinB, Dec 23, 2010

Oh, wait - hear, not here. :-) - KevinB, Dec 23, 2010

oops!!! - mountaingirl123, Dec 23, 2010

Answer 4

Yes, but English reuses words so much it's sometimes difficult to tell.

I wish I were somewhere else.

Were is subjunctive, compared to was.