The subjunctive in English

Just a curious note I thought I'd pass along. Yes, believe it or not, the subjunctive tense does exist in English. I had read this somewhere and for the life of me couldn't think of an example. And then it came to me one day from a prayer I learned as a kid (or maybe I had read it in an old English Bible): 'Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name..." "be" here is in the subjunctive! Rather than reflect a state of being, it expresses a wish or desire just like in Spanish: "Santificado sea tu nombre".

Well, since we are quoting examples from the great works, how about this one... "If I were a rich man, a ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum."

The subjunctive is probably the hardest aspect to grasp for English speakers trying to learn Spanish. In citing an example of this in the English language (the only one I know!), I was trying to make this verb tense more understandable / less mysterious for our RS community. Have you encountered other examples of the subjunctive in English which others may find helpful?

In the case of the Lord's Prayer, that may not be a case of the subjunctive just as this sentence is not. "hallowed by Thy name" is equivalent to saying "holy will be your name". If I were you, I would give this sentence as an example of the English subjunctive. Was usually goes with I whilst were is the subjunctive conjugation for I.

Thanks for your thoughts on this, Robert C7. If you have some good examples of the subjunctive in English, I would encourage you to pass them along here as this may help those learning Spanish to better understand this verb tense. p.s. I'm adding a note here. "I whilst" is probably too much outside of people's frame of reference to be helpful (too much outside of mine, in any event!). If you could give us some subjunctive examples using a more contemporary English, that would be great (provided that even exists).

Hola a todos, The following is from "English Grammar for Students of Spanish." In English the subjunctive verb form is difficult to recognize because it is spelled like other tenses of the verb: the dictionary form or the simple past tense. Indicative: He reads a lot. ( present indicative "to read") Subjunctive: The course requires that he read a lot. ( subjunctive same as dictionary form). Indicative: I am in Detroit right now. Subjunctive: I wish I were in Madrid. The subjunctive form of any verb is used following expressions that ask, urge, demand, request or express necessity. She asked that I "come" to see her. It is necessary that you "study" a lot. ( subjunctive in quotes ). Saludos, Ricardo

Indicative: Your will is done Subjunctive: Your will be done Past Indicative: I was a rich man and so I traveled the world. Past Subjunctive: If I were a rich man, I would travel the world. Here are some other subjunctives (from the English Subjunctive Wiki page) with the subjunctive in quotes. I insist that he "leave" now. unto death "do" us part far "be" it that me would that it "were" although it "be" (albeit) "be" it enacted Though he "were" dead, yet shall he live. (John 11:25) "Be" he alive or "be" he dead "Be" it ever so humble, there is no place like home.

Excellent. Thank you.

Wonderful. Thanks so much!