I'm a native English speaker (midwest USA), who learned English from my mother, whose native language was Lithuanian. She and my grammar school teachers spoke excellent English, so I grew up using the subjunctive correctly. When I began studying French, it was not difficult to grasp the concept, and I then became conscious of when I was and wasn't using it in English. (I hadn't really thought of the "rule" of how to use "be" in the subjunctive, although I used it correctly from hearing it used.) I've tried to teach some close friends/relatives how to use the past subjunctive "were," since so many use the indicative "was." Most people I know(should I upgrade my acquaintance list?) don't get the concept, so I've tried instead to short-cut my lesson by introducing some phrases, using "if," for example. Even then people find it difficult. In French class the teachers have typically introduced the subjunctive with such comments as, "This is difficult," and the students typically dislike learning about it (except me, of course). I still make enough mistakes in French, but at least I do understand the concept; and my study of it in French led me to better understand how it's used in English. It strikes me that your explanation is the same kind of explanation I've seen presented to help English speakers understand the subjunctive in French. I think it's probably very difficult to start from the perspective of the rules (which you've done beautifully, and how else can one do it anyway). But, if I'd not already had some background in this, I think it would have been hard to "get" it just from the rules, at least not without some concentrated study. I think this is the same reason it's harder for an adult to learn a foreign language than it is for a child; namely, our skill at imitating tends to decrease with age. Perhaps I'm in the minority, for I do love to see the mathematical precision in language when the rules are followed consistently. Regarding the distinction between formal and informal language, I remember rules from childhood about not dangling one's prepositions. I noted that you used "whom", but put the "to" at the end of one of your sentences. (The subtitles of that sentence read "who," which, of course, is how most people speak nowadays.) I, however, will take a "whom" wherever I can get it, the dangling preposition notwithstanding. All kidding aside (why do my sons think I'm not funny), thank you for the complete and fascinating presentation.
Thanks for your interesting comment. btw I would normally either put "who" and "to" at the end or sentence or "to" before whom but not mix them. I must have been having a bad day.
It's the best explanation I have ever had of the subjunctive mode, it's very important because native English speakers don't use it correctly and it's very tricky for us.
Your video is great! I’m a French learner, and learning about the subjonctif/subjunctive in my native English really helps me to use it correctly in French , where it is a bit more common and complex. Thank you for teaching this subject so clearly. In English, I use the subjunctive /subjonctif without even realizing it. You made me aware if it now. Again, many thanks ! 🙏🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷👍😉🎈I love your humor and your engaging style of teaching. I’m so glad I found your TH-cam channel today. I’ll be a new regular follower, especially since this will help me with French to English and English to French translation. I’ll be recommending you to all my language nerd friends ! À la prochaine fois et merci de tout ce que tu fais. 🙏💚💙😌
Most Americans can not make the difference between an adjective and an adverb. Grammar is very important. Most teachers teach languages without teaching the Grammar. What a mistake!
@@elisabethdakak878 I disagree with your response on two levels. Firstly, I take problem with your trying to point out Americans as stupid. I'm American. I happen to know an overwhelming number of very intelligent, educated Americans. I find this comment offensive. Also if your "statistic" about half of Americans not being able to tell the difference between an adjective an adverb is true, it's certainly true about other English-speaking countries as well, such as the UK or Canada. Secondly, you're touting prescriptivism, which I'll let you look up.
@@everestwitman such a elegant response. That shows americans are not stupid at all. And you both are correct. In average more English speakers care less about grammatical rules compared to other people, specialy Latin language speakers.
It's a delight to see someone correctly teaching the English subjunctive. So many English speakers--even those who teach English--don't know about the subjunctive mood. Thank you!
great channel to improve english skills! so glad i discovered it and thank you very much for share it. It’s a very interesting site, love the stories about history, people, culture, accents, etc. Regards from Chile :)
I loved this video! subjunctive is a great mood 😎 you should see how misunderstood and misplaced it is in Spanish in my country (usually mixed up with the conditional: I'd be I were 🙁)
I've been studying English language for about 20 years now and honestly, I had never heard about the right use of this tense 🙄!!! So amazing.. Thank you so much for this great lesson! Thank you!
I remember this: "The authority recommended that the students not enter the room without a mask". It's quite relevant. Can we move "that" in this sentence?
■ Whether it *be* (08:58) 09:11 I'll take an appointment *whether it be* during the week or the weekend. 09:25 I've got to get to London tomorrow *whether it be* by train or by donkey. ■ *Be* that as it may (09:34) 09:41 You say you don't have the virus, *be that as it may,* you should still take a test. 09:53 The quote by BigWig Systems is much cheaper than Van Liebling *be that as it may* I'm going to take the Van Liebling quote. ■ If need *be* (10:04) 10:10 I must release this video tomorrow. I'll work all night *if need be.* 10:24 I'll go to prison *if need be* but I'm not paying this fine, no. ■ *Come* what may (10:30) 10:37 I'm going to move to the big city next summer *come what may.* 10:47 I'll be here for you *come what may.* ■ Usage 02:03 rare 07:45 more common in US ■ Avoid (07:55) 08:01 should 04:50 Ving 08:16 to V 08:28 ignore ■ Form 00:42, 01:06, 01:21 ■ Verb·Adjecctive 03:13 ■ Example 03:34(03:52), 04:07, 04:31(04:38), 05:44, 06:00, 06:36, 07:31, 07:35 ■ Wrong example 05:16 ■ Etc 10:51~
Sir I eagerly want to ask you that do you have any connection from India since you are knowing quiet about it . May I have your answer please , I would definitely going to feel great full for this . And the most important thing your all lectures are just mind blowing with very helpful content for intermediate like me in English.
I started learning English many, many years ago, and I still remember having been told that the subjunctive was almost never used in spoken English, except in some phrases like "God save the Queen". So, after having watched this video I dusted some old grammar books I found in my library. All of them agreed that the subjunctive is not used in spoken English. This is pretty confusing.
Thank you sou much for the great explanation! However I still have some doubts regarding the subjunctive. What about the verbs want, need or hope. Isn't it correct to say sentences such as: "I want you to come here", I need her to do it", or "I hope it is enough"? Thanks a lot in advance.
Well, the subjunctive mood is really easy to apply since no conjugation is required. But to me it's confusing because it is so different from what I've learned so far. I didn't learn the subjunctive mood because whenever I came across it I thought it was informal African American slang
Is this lesson for British speakers or foreigners ? I wonder if Americans speak like this or just the Brits ? Would it be weird to speak like this in the States ? Thank you
Hi Gedion, I have been watching you for 5 years and secured job twice because of your videos. Please I need to talk with you if you have time. Please reply
Yes I learned were with sinking in english with intuition and no formal learning. For the subjonctive present I don’t really remember being exposed to it.
I'd rather say ""He proposed she'd not work too hard" instead of "He proposed she not work too hard". The " 'd" (abbrev. of SHOULD) inserted makes the sentence sound better to me. Or had I better get rid of the " 'd"? Does it sound odd to native speakers?
I can say it in speech, but I can't understand which part it is. Is the verb the subjective, if 'that' is omitted? Or is the phrase subjective if it takes this form 🤯
Hello, I've got a question. From what I understand, in the subjunctive mood we would say: 'I suggest that you take the train' or if we don't want to use the subjunctive we could say 'I suggest taking the train'. But is it correct to say: 'I suggest YOUR/YOU taking the train'?'. I think I've learnt something like this at school. Could someone answer my question, please?
"I suggest (that) you take the train", "I suggest taking the train" are both correct although in modern British parlance I think "I would take the train (if I were you)" or "you should take the train" are perhaps more commonly used in such situations. "I suggest your taking the train" sounds technically correct to me but very archaic, and "I suggest you taking the train" is wrong.
We don't use it, we use the auxiliary verb "do". Very well explained, but, again, we don't use it. (I used "do" again). BTW subjunctive has a completely different use in, for example, Spanish, and most Spanish speakers A: don't use it, B: if they do, they use it wrongly, C: absolutely couldn't conjugate it to save their lives.
Should I use the subjunctive with the expression "I hope"? For example, should I say "I hope that you be doing good" or "I hope that you are doing good"?
I know all of this is correct in professional speech but in my dialect I have never heard anyone use the subjunctive except with to be in the past. But not always. To me it sounds more natural to say ‘I suggest that she learns’ instead of ‘learn’. Am I crazy?
I notice that most Americans no longer use the unreal past subjunctive. They say, “I wish I would have bought that.” Instead of “I wish I had bought that.”
Is this phrase correct: "It's imperative that she do learn to prepare cocktails" (It's just a tad overabundant, I guess, but is it grammatically all right?)
I searched "that she do learn to" and "that he do learn to" on google and I didn't get any hits, which means nobody says that ever, even if it's technically correct.
Dammit, this is school all over again. It seems that I can't for the live of me figure out what a subjunctive is. I just can't wrap my head around theoretical things like that - it's either learning by doing or nothing for me it seems.
Oh, got it! I think...damn, that took a while. Now to look out for it in my regular diet of english entertainment. I don't remember hearing that very often.
Wonderful lesson, sir, I have to watch it some more times - not only because it's informative (and It certainly is, indeed!) But your T-shirt is so informative, too, that It took me half of the time to explore its content, you know.
I get a real kick out of binge-watching episodes of LetThemTalkTV on and on. I only wish we had TH-cam when I was at school and tried to learn Russian. They taught us many things but not to communicate with Russians. Now I rediscover the beautiful language watching Russian serials, for instance "Кухня", on YT. Мышонку шепчет мышь: - Ты все шуршишь, не спишь ! Мышонок шепчет мыши: - Шуршать я буду тише.
Some of you commenters need to clam down ... Language is art; not science ... You are somewhat free to express yourself in the terms you want to use so long as it doesn't affect understanding.
When I learned French, one of big realizations there was that the subjunctive in French led to a whole different set of verb tenses (and a whole different set of irregular verbs). I believe that many Francophone people avoid using that tense in their language when possible, to avoid all this extra word salad in the mouth.
That's not true. Native french speakers use it without realizing it. Besides, they feel the need to use it otherwise the sentence doesn't sound correctly. One example is the tendency to use the subjunctive after "après que" when the correct way, according to the Real Académie Française, is the indicative
I am a native English speaker, I am a reader, I find writing formal English easy but had never even heard of the subjunctive until I started learning other languages. My sister who doesn't like reading and hated essay writing at school knew all about it....and grammar in general. As she said, though, I use the subjunctive all the time. It is a form I actually like.
www.englishclub.com/grammar/subjunctive.htm In Spanish and French it is easy to recognize the subjunctive mode. If you know French or Spanish, you can easily identify the subjunctive mode in English.
In the UK grammar is not taught well. I met several people with a master's in English literature who completed their course without taking a grammar exam. I used to explain grammar rules to my native English speakers colleagues when I worked in schools in London.
@@danhope77 I may be wrong but I think of the subjunctive as only surviving in English in phrases (such as 'if need be' and 'If I were you') rather than as a part of the grammar. What do you think? I struggle to think of examples, though 'if there were some mythical planet' would be subjunctive, and it comes more naturally than 'if there was some mythical planet'. I have now totally destroyed my own argument. Arrggghhh!
@@MrMartibobs yes, the subjunctive is not used much. Even in French and in Italian more and more people don't use it. For me it is a beautiful verbal tense but I do agree that it is not crucial in order to make yourself understood, it's interesting and it definitely has its own flavour. In Italian it's definitely used more than in French and much more than in English especially by well spoken people.
Always so good and informative! Thanks Gideon.Some native speakers tried to correct me when I used “if I were you”, I learned it at language school but just as a conditional, they never explained the subjuctive or why we use “ were” and not “was” so I could not counter-argue people who tried to hiper-correct me.Now I know why, so I can explain.thanks!
I’m English and I didn’t even realise that we use the subjunctive. I only heard the word subjunctive once I started learning Spanish. I don’t remember it being taught at school. Thanks anyway!
Thank you for this, I had no idea the subjunctive even existed. I actually used it quite often without even knowing it, mostly in the form of "... be it X or Y...". My high school teacher never told us about it, explaining the past subjunctive "were instead of was" as just a more socially accepted and common way of saying "was" in the past tense, with no further elaboration on that. Whether or not she told us or even knew about it herself, I now do, thanks to your fantastic video!
Hello Gideon, Thank you for such a thorough lesson on this tough subject in English. I have recently found out in our English textbook for junior high students here in Vietnam, suggest struture is used with should, to avoid using subjunctive altogether. It's written as below: Suggest + (that) + S + should I know this is a less formal way of using and I personally do not recommend it to students as i want them to learn the proper way of speaking. Also, subjunctive is very common in English, so I'm not sure how students are taught when it comes to other verbs, such as recommend, advise and so on. As an experienced English teacher, may I ask what's your opinion on this? Again, you have my utmost gratitude and respect for sharing your wisdom openly. You are making changes in lots of people's lives.
You can avoid the subjunctive but why? I suggest (that) you should not do this (no subjunctive) I suggest (that) you not do this (subjunctive) The subjunctive version is actually easier. Why complicate peoples lives? And in the first sentence you are adding a would that is redundant. 'should' adds nothing and can be omitted.
@@LetThemTalkTV Students don't get subjunctive for some reasons. And I agree it's actually easier as suggest already means offering advice so why add should? Only if I could explain 😆
Thanks, I’ve heard that the British don’t really follow these rules nowadays and they say If I was instead of if I were or they say I suggest he does instead of do. Is that true?
As a native English speaker, I can confirm that the overall level of grammar amongst native speakers, generally speaking, leaves a lot to be desired! Apart from the shockingly ubiquitous mistake of people writing "should of" instead of "should have", you will see and hear sentences such as "It's important (that) so-and-so studies more" all the time! The subjunctive is rarely used/heard in everyday conversations as it's a formal way of speaking.
Great video!!! There are similarities with Spanish subjunctive! Thanks for the new input, You are great sir! I wish you were my teacher! I will definitely be ypur student!!! ❤️🙏😍 Greetings from Peru!
I'm a native English speaker (midwest USA), who learned English from my mother, whose native language was Lithuanian. She and my grammar school teachers spoke excellent English, so I grew up using the subjunctive correctly. When I began studying French, it was not difficult to grasp the concept, and I then became conscious of when I was and wasn't using it in English. (I hadn't really thought of the "rule" of how to use "be" in the subjunctive, although I used it correctly from hearing it used.) I've tried to teach some close friends/relatives how to use the past subjunctive "were," since so many use the indicative "was." Most people I know(should I upgrade my acquaintance list?) don't get the concept, so I've tried instead to short-cut my lesson by introducing some phrases, using "if," for example. Even then people find it difficult.
In French class the teachers have typically introduced the subjunctive with such comments as, "This is difficult," and the students typically dislike learning about it (except me, of course). I still make enough mistakes in French, but at least I do understand the concept; and my study of it in French led me to better understand how it's used in English.
It strikes me that your explanation is the same kind of explanation I've seen presented to help English speakers understand the subjunctive in French. I think it's probably very difficult to start from the perspective of the rules (which you've done beautifully, and how else can one do it anyway). But, if I'd not already had some background in this, I think it would have been hard to "get" it just from the rules, at least not without some concentrated study. I think this is the same reason it's harder for an adult to learn a foreign language than it is for a child; namely, our skill at imitating tends to decrease with age. Perhaps I'm in the minority, for I do love to see the mathematical precision in language when the rules are followed consistently.
Regarding the distinction between formal and informal language, I remember rules from childhood about not dangling one's prepositions. I noted that you used "whom", but put the "to" at the end of one of your sentences. (The subtitles of that sentence read "who," which, of course, is how most people speak nowadays.) I, however, will take a "whom" wherever I can get it, the dangling preposition notwithstanding. All kidding aside (why do my sons think I'm not funny), thank you for the complete and fascinating presentation.
Thanks for your interesting comment. btw I would normally either put "who" and "to" at the end or sentence or "to" before whom but not mix them. I must have been having a bad day.
It's the best explanation I have ever had of the subjunctive mode, it's very important because native English speakers don't use it correctly and it's very tricky for us.
It tends to be used more by Americans, who probably don't realize they're using it. The British have more problems with it and use it less.
Your video is great! I’m a French learner, and learning about the subjonctif/subjunctive in my native English really helps me to use it correctly in French , where it is a bit more common and complex. Thank you for teaching this subject so clearly. In English, I use the subjunctive /subjonctif without even realizing it. You made me aware if it now. Again, many thanks ! 🙏🇺🇸🇬🇧🇫🇷👍😉🎈I love your humor and your engaging style of teaching. I’m so glad I found your TH-cam channel today. I’ll be a new regular follower, especially since this will help me with French to English and English to French translation. I’ll be recommending you to all my language nerd friends ! À la prochaine fois et merci de tout ce que tu fais. 🙏💚💙😌
This is an amazing lesson that has cleared up many of my doubts. Thank you very much Gideon 🙏, cheers!
That was my objective. Glad it was useful
@@LetThemTalkTV thank you
'that was my objective' ' this is a new sentence I learnt it now. 😊
Me, a native English speaker watching this whole video
Most Americans can not make the difference between an adjective and an adverb. Grammar is very important. Most teachers teach languages without teaching the Grammar. What a mistake!
@@elisabethdakak878 I disagree with your response on two levels. Firstly, I take problem with your trying to point out Americans as stupid. I'm American. I happen to know an overwhelming number of very intelligent, educated Americans. I find this comment offensive. Also if your "statistic" about half of Americans not being able to tell the difference between an adjective an adverb is true, it's certainly true about other English-speaking countries as well, such as the UK or Canada. Secondly, you're touting prescriptivism, which I'll let you look up.
@@everestwitman such a elegant response. That shows americans are not stupid at all. And you both are correct. In average more English speakers care less about grammatical rules compared to other people, specialy Latin language speakers.
@@everestwitman you taken it to seriously...No offense in his comment just we are all sharing our experiences! 🙏👋
@@alexandrefeitosa100 an elegant response🤪 an with vowels
It's a delight to see someone correctly teaching the English subjunctive. So many English speakers--even those who teach English--don't know about the subjunctive mood. Thank you!
This is the best explanation about subjunctive mood I've ever seen. Thanks!
I am a learner, from the Middle East from Iran ... and I'm so excited to.....find u!
A gem of a lesson it is!
I suggest that every English learner watch this million dollar lesson without fail . Thanks Sir.
great channel to improve english skills! so glad i discovered it and thank you very much for share it. It’s a very interesting site, love the stories about history, people, culture, accents, etc. Regards from Chile :)
The pleasure is mine
I loved this video! subjunctive is a great mood 😎 you should see how misunderstood and misplaced it is in Spanish in my country (usually mixed up with the conditional: I'd be I were 🙁)
Argentina?
In Italy as well
It's much simpler in English
Thank you, sir. Your classes have always been impressive!
I was born and live in England am English, and I was never taught all of these good tips and guidance! Thank you !!
Finally I have a good explanation of certain forms of English
I wish I had a teacher like you when I was at school👍🏻👏🏻 I’m officially addicted to this channel !
How cool was that if I were in UK I would ve given u a massive hug virtual hug anyways to all of u
I've never read about this matter in any English grammar book. Thank you!
Thanks so much Teacher! Really groovy video today💕. Best wishes and Farewell! 👍😘♥️
A groovy comment. Farewell
@@LetThemTalkTV Your responses are extremely amusing too.. 😆
I've been studying English language for about 20 years now and honestly, I had never heard about the right use of this tense 🙄!!! So amazing.. Thank you so much for this great lesson! Thank you!
The subjunctive is not a tense like the present or past tense, but a mood of the verb different from the indicative.
I studied English all my life n never new that we had subjenctive verbs in english.
Interesting...thks
I like the channel. It brings a huge level up for my English. Bloody sophisticated. Thank you!
English subjunctive is a piece of cake for Spanish speakers.It's soooooo easy!
So true
Whether it be with you or with somebody else I going to speak English.
Be that as it may I will do it. If need be I speak with myself.
Yes, a great video. Because the subjunctive has almost disappeared in spoken English. And is on its way out in written English.
Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!
I remember this: "The authority recommended that the students not enter the room without a mask". It's quite relevant. Can we move "that" in this sentence?
Yes, you can remove 'that'.
And even "the" ?
We insist that the authorities stick all those pLandemic-related recommendations and restrictions up their @$$es.
Great lesson! Made it really simple!
I really appreciate your Eng Grammar knowledge and the ability to make someone learn easily.
I have a little doubt
( At 6,:39 6:40 ) Caron eat or eats
So many unexpected and hitherto unknown things in one small video!
■ Whether it *be* (08:58)
09:11 I'll take an appointment *whether it be* during the week or the weekend.
09:25 I've got to get to London tomorrow *whether it be* by train or by donkey.
■ *Be* that as it may (09:34)
09:41 You say you don't have the virus, *be that as it may,* you should still take a test.
09:53 The quote by BigWig Systems is much cheaper than Van Liebling *be that as it may* I'm going to take the Van Liebling quote.
■ If need *be* (10:04)
10:10 I must release this video tomorrow. I'll work all night *if need be.*
10:24 I'll go to prison *if need be* but I'm not paying this fine, no.
■ *Come* what may (10:30)
10:37 I'm going to move to the big city next summer *come what may.*
10:47 I'll be here for you *come what may.*
■ Usage
02:03 rare
07:45 more common in US
■ Avoid (07:55)
08:01 should
04:50 Ving
08:16 to V
08:28 ignore
■ Form 00:42, 01:06, 01:21
■ Verb·Adjecctive 03:13
■ Example 03:34(03:52), 04:07,
04:31(04:38), 05:44, 06:00, 06:36, 07:31, 07:35
■ Wrong example 05:16
■ Etc 10:51~
.
Sir I eagerly want to ask you that do you have any connection from India since you are knowing quiet about it . May I have your answer please , I would definitely going to feel great full for this .
And the most important thing your all lectures are just mind blowing with very helpful content for intermediate like me in English.
I love India. That's my only connection with it. Thanks
A lot of love and blessings for you Sir.
I started learning English many, many years ago, and I still remember having been told that the subjunctive was almost never used in spoken English, except in some phrases like "God save the Queen". So, after having watched this video I dusted some old grammar books I found in my library. All of them agreed that the subjunctive is not used in spoken English. This is pretty confusing.
Thank you so much for your teachings!!!!
Hi Gideon! Awesome lesson, a lot to take in, but it’s crystal clear! Thanks once again 😘
The subjunctive versus reported speech: please explain! Both sometimes seem to use the same verb forms, right?
They a different. Though both may use a past tense.
Hi Gideon! Thank you for the lesson I expected for a long time. If you could explain the form "can't help doing smth", please?
You are just Amasing...!
No, you are amazing.
AmaZing.
You are impressive
Thank you sou much for the great explanation! However I still have some doubts regarding the subjunctive. What about the verbs want, need or hope. Isn't it correct to say sentences such as: "I want you to come here", I need her to do it", or "I hope it is enough"? Thanks a lot in advance.
Thanks a bunch
thank you
Well, the subjunctive mood is really easy to apply since no conjugation is required. But to me it's confusing because it is so different from what I've learned so far. I didn't learn the subjunctive mood because whenever I came across it I thought it was informal African American slang
No angry face? Me no grammar learn! 🤣
Thanks you so much!!!! you use it a lot but in writing, I guess. Now it is so clear!!!
my grammar is still bad, but I really like your videos :3
Very clearly , thank you teacher
Is this lesson for British speakers or foreigners ? I wonder if Americans speak like this or just the Brits ?
Would it be weird to speak like this in the States ? Thank you
Hi Gedion, I have been watching you for 5 years and secured job twice because of your videos. Please I need to talk with you if you have time. Please reply
Wow! Such an amazing video! Thank you! 😊
Thanks. Is kinda similar to second conditional?
Where can I get such a t-shirt?
Here's the link teespring.com/stores/my-store-10219664
Great grammar refresher. Thank you;)
!Colosal¡ you are the best teacher.
Regards,
Hi, Gideon! How's life treating you? Another riveting lesson. I'm learning so much thanks to you!. Hope you're staying safe and dry. 😄
Just fine. I'm glad you're learning form them. That's my objective. Thanks
Should I say « just in case it rain »or « just in case it rains »?present or subjunctive ?
The correct answer is just in case it rains -- no subjunctive.
This reminded me of "Wish You Were Here" (1975).
So... I was using the subjunctive without knowing it.
Yes I learned were with sinking in english with intuition and no formal learning. For the subjonctive present I don’t really remember being exposed to it.
Your teaching has always been sexond to none!
I'd rather say ""He proposed she'd not work too hard" instead of "He proposed she not work too hard". The " 'd" (abbrev. of SHOULD) inserted makes the sentence sound better to me.
Or had I better get rid of the " 'd"? Does it sound odd to native speakers?
Your first sentence is not correct. You cannot contract 'should' and in your sentence it should be 'suggest'. Propose is not right.
ThaT t shirt though :D. SO apt
I can say it in speech, but I can't understand which part it is. Is the verb the subjective, if 'that' is omitted? Or is the phrase subjective if it takes this form 🤯
Hello, I've got a question. From what I understand, in the subjunctive mood we would say: 'I suggest that you take the train' or if we don't want to use the subjunctive we could say 'I suggest taking the train'. But is it correct to say: 'I suggest YOUR/YOU taking the train'?'. I think I've learnt something like this at school. Could someone answer my question, please?
"I suggest (that) you take the train", "I suggest taking the train" are both correct although in modern British parlance I think "I would take the train (if I were you)" or "you should take the train" are perhaps more commonly used in such situations. "I suggest your taking the train" sounds technically correct to me but very archaic, and "I suggest you taking the train" is wrong.
I love you, teacher Gideon, for all your very helpful videos. You wouldn't want me to be your friend, would you? 😁
We don't use it, we use the auxiliary verb "do". Very well explained, but, again, we don't use it. (I used "do" again). BTW subjunctive has a completely different use in, for example, Spanish, and most Spanish speakers A: don't use it, B: if they do, they use it wrongly, C: absolutely couldn't conjugate it to save their lives.
i wish i had seen this video in its entirety before writing this comment - past subjunctive or conditional clause?
Lovely to see you! I hope that you are doing well! Greetings from the USA! love, deb cassens
Hi Deb, we miss you in Paris. Hope to see you after all this turmoil is over.
@@LetThemTalkTV Yes! Hopefully later in the year I can return! it has been over. a year and a half now! take care!
Wow I always thought the this tense was not existing in english.
Brilliant! ❤️
Should I use the subjunctive with the expression "I hope"? For example, should I say "I hope that you be doing good" or "I hope that you are doing good"?
It is indicative as it has no that-clause
I’ll watch this video again if need be 😉
I suggest that everyone follow Gideon's lessons
Impeccable statement both grammatically and factually.
I know all of this is correct in professional speech but in my dialect I have never heard anyone use the subjunctive except with to be in the past. But not always. To me it sounds more natural to say ‘I suggest that she learns’ instead of ‘learn’. Am I crazy?
Are you British? Thay might be the reason
@@erichamilton3373 nope. I'm from the American midwest
I notice that most Americans no longer use the unreal past subjunctive. They say, “I wish I would have bought that.” Instead of “I wish I had bought that.”
Subjunctive - sounds latin (sub=under, junctive=connection) I'm puzzled.
Suffice to say , this is good. It is urgent that you .....go to the doctor when unwell. that you not take the medicine unnecessarily.
never heard 'come what may', I'm serious!
Is this phrase correct: "It's imperative that she do learn to prepare cocktails" (It's just a tad overabundant, I guess, but is it grammatically all right?)
I searched "that she do learn to" and "that he do learn to" on google and I didn't get any hits, which means nobody says that ever, even if it's technically correct.
It is correct. It would need to be in emphatic context...that's hard to google
I was using it and didn't know anything about it LOL
Dammit, this is school all over again. It seems that I can't for the live of me figure out what a subjunctive is. I just can't wrap my head around theoretical things like that - it's either learning by doing or nothing for me it seems.
Oh, got it! I think...damn, that took a while. Now to look out for it in my regular diet of english entertainment. I don't remember hearing that very often.
Hi! You are a great teacher and a very nice person. Your sense of humour is... something! 💖
His humour is (e.g.) outstanding. Awesome. Impressive. Awe-inspiring. Epic. Groovy
Those are kind words. I thank you for them.
Wonderful lesson, sir, I have to watch it some more times - not only because it's informative (and It certainly is, indeed!) But your T-shirt is so informative, too, that It took me half of the time to explore its content, you know.
I get a real kick out of binge-watching episodes of LetThemTalkTV on and on. I only wish we had TH-cam when I was at school and tried to learn Russian. They taught us many things but not to communicate with Russians. Now I rediscover the beautiful language watching Russian serials, for instance "Кухня", on YT.
Мышонку шепчет мышь:
- Ты все шуршишь, не спишь !
Мышонок шепчет мыши:
- Шуршать я буду тише.
@@frankgradus9474 Compelling!
My instant gratification to you for this incredibly elaborate and easily -memorising video. Best of luck from Bulgaria
I hope you're in a subjunctive mood😂😂
Amazing video! Glad to learn the grammar behind this use. Thanks for your precious videos.
Glad you like them!
Some of you commenters need to clam down ... Language is art; not science ... You are somewhat free to express yourself in the terms you want to use so long as it doesn't affect understanding.
Great video! Thank you so much for this one, it was very clear and much needed.
My pleasure
When I learned French, one of big realizations there was that the subjunctive in French led to a whole different set of verb tenses (and a whole different set of irregular verbs). I believe that many Francophone people avoid using that tense in their language when possible, to avoid all this extra word salad in the mouth.
That's not true. Native french speakers use it without realizing it. Besides, they feel the need to use it otherwise the sentence doesn't sound correctly. One example is the tendency to use the subjunctive after "après que" when the correct way, according to the Real Académie Française, is the indicative
I am a native English speaker, I am a reader, I find writing formal English easy but had never even heard of the subjunctive until I started learning other languages. My sister who doesn't like reading and hated essay writing at school knew all about it....and grammar in general. As she said, though, I use the subjunctive all the time. It is a form I actually like.
www.englishclub.com/grammar/subjunctive.htm
In Spanish and French it is easy to recognize the subjunctive mode. If you know French or Spanish, you can easily identify the subjunctive mode in English.
In the UK grammar is not taught well. I met several people with a master's in English literature who completed their course without taking a grammar exam. I used to explain grammar rules to my native English speakers colleagues when I worked in schools in London.
@@danhope77 I may be wrong but I think of the subjunctive as only surviving in English in phrases (such as 'if need be' and 'If I were you') rather than as a part of the grammar. What do you think? I struggle to think of examples, though 'if there were some mythical planet' would be subjunctive, and it comes more naturally than 'if there was some mythical planet'. I have now totally destroyed my own argument. Arrggghhh!
@@MrMartibobs yes, the subjunctive is not used much. Even in French and in Italian more and more people don't use it. For me it is a beautiful verbal tense but I do agree that it is not crucial in order to make yourself understood, it's interesting and it definitely has its own flavour. In Italian it's definitely used more than in French and much more than in English especially by well spoken people.
@@danhope77 Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Lovely to get a nice, informed comment.
Always so good and informative! Thanks Gideon.Some native speakers tried to correct me when I used “if I were you”, I learned it at language school but just as a conditional, they never explained the subjuctive or why we use “ were” and not “was” so I could not counter-argue people who tried to hiper-correct me.Now I know why, so I can explain.thanks!
Thank you, what a great teacher... I 'd listen to this man the entire day
I’m English and I didn’t even realise that we use the subjunctive. I only heard the word subjunctive once I started learning Spanish. I don’t remember it being taught at school. Thanks anyway!
@Tony.... Italians verbs are the very nightmare....
I'm not English but the video did help me to learn subjunctive in Spanish :D
Spanish speakers make a lot of mistakes with the subjunctive mode nowadays, I can't stand it.
@@noemialsur1460 Italians speakers too. 😢😁
@@noemialsur1460 in Portuguese too, principaly Brazilians, everything that is complicated in Portuguese we "get it wrong"
Thank you for this, I had no idea the subjunctive even existed. I actually used it quite often without even knowing it, mostly in the form of "... be it X or Y...". My high school teacher never told us about it, explaining the past subjunctive "were instead of was" as just a more socially accepted and common way of saying "was" in the past tense, with no further elaboration on that. Whether or not she told us or even knew about it herself, I now do, thanks to your fantastic video!
Hello Gideon,
Thank you for such a thorough lesson on this tough subject in English. I have recently found out in our English textbook for junior high students here in Vietnam, suggest struture is used with should, to avoid using subjunctive altogether. It's written as below:
Suggest + (that) + S + should
I know this is a less formal way of using and I personally do not recommend it to students as i want them to learn the proper way of speaking. Also, subjunctive is very common in English, so I'm not sure how students are taught when it comes to other verbs, such as recommend, advise and so on.
As an experienced English teacher, may I ask what's your opinion on this?
Again, you have my utmost gratitude and respect for sharing your wisdom openly. You are making changes in lots of people's lives.
You can avoid the subjunctive but why?
I suggest (that) you should not do this (no subjunctive)
I suggest (that) you not do this (subjunctive)
The subjunctive version is actually easier. Why complicate peoples lives? And in the first sentence you are adding a would that is redundant. 'should' adds nothing and can be omitted.
@@LetThemTalkTV
Students don't get subjunctive for some reasons. And I agree it's actually easier as suggest already means offering advice so why add should?
Only if I could explain 😆
Thanks, I’ve heard that the British don’t really follow these rules nowadays and they say If I was instead of if I were or they say I suggest he does instead of do. Is that true?
I follow them.
@@LetThemTalkTV I gathered so :) Would be really interesting to know how common that is though.
As a native English speaker, I can confirm that the overall level of grammar amongst native speakers, generally speaking, leaves a lot to be desired! Apart from the shockingly ubiquitous mistake of people writing "should of" instead of "should have", you will see and hear sentences such as "It's important (that) so-and-so studies more" all the time! The subjunctive is rarely used/heard in everyday conversations as it's a formal way of speaking.
@@FerminTrujilloEspetero thanks a lot for your reply, it makes sense now as I haven’t heard many British people using the subjunctive 😄
Most British tourists use the subjunctive correctly when writing a postcard. One of the frequent expressions we use is ‘Wish you were here’
Now I understand why MF DOOM says
"I suggest YOU CHANGE your diet.
It can lead to high blood pressure if you fry it" without TO.
THANK YOU
2:00 in German, they use subjunctive regularly and the following verb is inflected.
"I'll work all night, if need be". Sounds like Yoda, at least for me.
Like Yoda does it sound indeed. Right you are and with you I agree.
😂
Thanks a lot!
thanks
Hey sir.how do u do ? I hope you r doing well. I didn't see you for while.
I have been watching videos on Utube for subjunctive mood and this is the best video on the topic
Good work 👍
excellent content, as always! cheers for your dedication and skill in teaching English to us all. have a lovely Sunday, I'm saying hi from Warsaw!
Great video!!! There are similarities with Spanish subjunctive! Thanks for the new input, You are great sir! I wish you were my teacher! I will definitely be ypur student!!! ❤️🙏😍 Greetings from Peru!
I'm am your teacher. Best wishes.