Subjunctive for Dummies

Hey there! Today, I'm going to explain to you what the word "subjunctive" means. Don't worry, I'll keep it fun and easy to understand, even if it might sound a little complex!

So, imagine you're playing a game where you can imagine things that aren't real yet, like a big, juicy pizza dropping from the sky. That's kind of what the subjunctive is all about - it's like a special way of talking or thinking about things that haven't actually happened yet.

When we use the subjunctive, we're not stating a fact or describing something that's real, we're talking about something that is uncertain, imaginary, or a wish. It's like our way of saying, "Hey, this is what I want to happen, or how I wish things were, but it might not be true in reality."

For example, let's say you really want a dog. You might say, "I wish I had a dog!" In this sentence, "had" is in the subjunctive form because you don't actually have a dog yet. The subjunctive helps us express our desires or wishes, even if they might not happen.

Now, let me give you another example. Imagine it's your birthday and your friends haven't arrived yet. You might think, "I hope my friends come soon." In this sentence, "come" is in the subjunctive form because your friends haven't arrived yet. It's like you're thinking about something that hasn't actually happened, but you're expressing your hope for it to happen.

So, to sum it up, the subjunctive is a special way of talking or thinking about things that haven't actually happened yet. It's like our way of expressing wishes, desires, or uncertain situations. It's as if we're stepping into our own little imaginative world and saying, "Hey, this is what I hope or wish for, even if it's not real yet."

I hope this explanation helped! If you have any more questions or need further clarification, feel free to ask.