The subjunctive in noun clauses in British English is getting rarer
and rarer, being supplanted by the indicative in many cases. Here’s
a sample from British fiction, where the indicative is especially common:
| (a) |
Roberta had given them directions, suggesting
that they headed straight for the old barn. |
| (b) |
My dear husband insisted that we came
here for the holidays
|
American English, too, uses the indicative sometimes, but rarely. From
a recent statement by an American politician:
| (c) |
Given the situation, it is essential that their
questions are answered
|
In contrast, the norm in American English is the subjunctive. The indicative
is gaining ground, but the subjunctive is well established. British
English, however, uses the indicative often and also makes heavy use
of should + verb, especially in formal style.
The indicative usually does not affect the meaning of an utterance—that is, it doesn’t indicate extra urgency or necessarily strong
will of the subject . There is a very good reason, however, to use
the
subjunctive if the utterance can be misinterpreted. For example, both
insist and suggest have two distinct
meanings.
Suggest can mean:
1) “say indirectly, imply, give an impression,” as in
| (d) |
She suggested that he didn’t tell
the truth to his parents (She implied that he really did not tell
the truth to his parents.
|
| (e) |
The senator suggested that his opponent stole
money from the people
(The senator implied that his opponent stole/ had stolen money from
the people.)
|
and, it can also mean:
2) “say with the intention of influencing someone’s behavior”:
| (f) |
She suggested that he not tell
the truth to his parents
(She thought that he should not tell the truth to his parents—they
would be too upset.)
|
| (g) |
The senator suggested that his opponent tell
the truth about the money.
(The senator thought that his opponent should tell the truth about
the money.)
|
Insist has the same two kinds of meanings:
1) “say very directly, try to convince," as in
| (h) |
He insisted that his daughter spoke
English well.
(He said very forcefully, against all evidence to the contrary,
that his daughter spoke English well.)
|
| (i) |
My aunt insists that she was
born in 1960, even though her three older brothers all remember
that she was born in 1955
(My aunt said very forcefully, against the statements of her brothers
to the contrary, that she was born in 1960.)
|
2) “say with the intention of influencing someone’s behavior”:
| (j) |
He insisted that his daughter speak
English well
(He put pressure on her to speak English well—that’s
what he wanted her to do.)
|
| (k) |
My grandmother insists that everybody come
to her house every New Year’s Day.
(She practically forces the whole family to be at her house every
New Year’s Day.
|
Students should learn to use the subjunctive, but along the way, sooner
or later, they will encounter the indicative. A good exercise might
be to ask them to notice usages in the printed media, to see just how
these verbs are really used.
Marilyn Martin
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