Subjunctive Form - PowerPoint

The subjunctive form is an essential aspect of English grammar, particularly relevant for students in Years 5 and 6 focusing on writing skills. It is a verb form used to express situations that are possible, desired, or imagined, and is often found in sentences with the word 'if'. For instance, "If Harry were to be picked, we would win the game easily" demonstrates the use of the subjunctive form. The lesson aims to introduce the concept and usage of the subjunctive, highlighting its prevalence in formal writing such as official documents, formal letters, and school notifications. The subjunctive is characterised by the absence of the usual 's' at the end of verbs in the third person singular form.

Formal writing often employs the subjunctive form to convey a tone of professionalism and formality. For example, in official communication, one might say "The board recommend that he join the company" instead of "The board recommends that he joins the company". The lesson includes exercises where students identify the subjunctive form in various sentences and transform informal sentences into their formal equivalents using the subjunctive. This practice helps students discern the difference in formality and understand when and how to use the subjunctive form correctly. The lesson is designed to be interactive, with activities such as quizzes and sentence completion exercises to reinforce learning.