Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using the subjunctive with adjectives of obligation | page 5 of 5 |
Teaching implications
The use of the subjunctive when making suggestions and proposals, or when referring to obligations is a feature of formal speech and writing, and is becoming increasingly less common in modern English. However, students are still likely to encounter subjunctive forms in a wide range of situations and contexts (particularly at senior secondary level) and they should at least be familiar with the basic forms, and be able to understand why the subjunctive is used and the effect it creates.
It should not be necessary to focus too much attention on the subjunctive, but teachers may like to point out examples and explain their significance as they appear in naturally occurring speech and writing situations.
Introduction
Teaching implications
