You can mark you interesting snippets of text that will be available through a unique link in your browser.


subjunctive

Translation
subjunctive
—subjunctively, adv.
/seuhb jungk"tiv/, Gram.
adj.
1. (in English and certain other languages) noting or pertaining to a mood or mode of the verb that may be used for subjective, doubtful, hypothetical, or grammatically subordinate statements or questions, as the mood of be in if this be treason. Cf. imperative (def. 3), indicative (def. 2).
n.
2. the subjunctive mood or mode.
3. a verb in the subjunctive mood or form.
[1520-30; < LL subjunctivus, equiv. to subjunct(us) (ptp. of subjungere to subjoin, equiv. to sub- SUB- + jung(ere) to JOIN + -tus ptp. suffix) + -ivus -IVE]
Usage. The subjunctive mood of the verb, once used extensively in English, has largely disappeared today. The subjunctive survives, though by no means consistently, in sentences with conditional clauses contrary to fact and in subordinate clauses after verbs like wish: If the house were nearer to the road, we would hear more traffic noise. I wish I were in Florida. The subjunctive also occurs in subordinate that clauses after a main clause expressing recommendation, resolution, demand, etc.: We ask that each tenant take (not takes) responsibility for keeping the front door locked. It is important that only fresh spinach be (not is) used.
The subjunctive occurs too in some established or idiomatic expressions: So be it. Heaven help us. God rest ye merry, gentlemen. Were in the phrase as it were, meaning "in a way," is a subjunctive: His apology, as it were, sounded more like an insult.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Synonyms:

  
Share  

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Subjunctive — Sub*junc tive, a. [L. subjunctivus, fr. subjungere, subjunctum, to subjoin: cf. F. subjonctif. See {Subjoin}.] Subjoined or added to something before said or written. [1913 Webster] {Subjunctive mood} (Gram.), that form of a verb which express… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Subjunctive — Sub*junc tive, n. (Gram.) The subjunctive mood; also, a verb in the subjunctive mood. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • subjunctive — 1> грам. сослагательное наклонение 2> грам. сослагательный Ex: subjunctive mood сослагательное наклонение …   Новый большой англо-русский словарь

  • subjunctive — gram. 1. noun сослагательное наклонение 2. adj. сослагательный …   Англо-русский словарь Мюллера

  • subjunctive — I. adjective Etymology: Late Latin subjunctivus, from Latin subjunctus, past participle of subjungere to join beneath, subordinate Date: 1530 of, relating to, or constituting a verb form or set of verb forms that represents a denoted act or state …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • subjunctive — səbˈdʒʌŋktɪv 1. сущ. сослагательное наклонение 2. прил. сослагательный (грамматика) сослагательное наклонение (грамматика) сослагательный * mood сослагательное наклонение subjunctive грам. сослагательное наклонение сослагательный …   Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь

  • subjunctive — 1. adjective inflected to indicate that an act or state of being is possible, contingent or hypothetical, and not a fact. English examples include so be it; I wouldn’t if I were you; were I a younger man, I would fight back; I asked that he… …   Wiktionary

  • subjunctive — См. congiuntivo 2 …   Пятиязычный словарь лингвистических терминов

  • subjunctive — [səb dʒʌŋktɪv] 1) Общая лексика: сослагательный 2) Грамматика: сослагательное наклонение 3) Лингвистика: конъюнктив (mood), сослагательное наклонение (mood) …   Универсальный англо-русский словарь

  • subjunctive — [səb dʒʌŋktɪv] Abbreviation: subj …   Универсальный русско-английский словарь