Subjunctive

Meaning
a mood, usually used in formal speech and writing, that expresses modality

Present Subjunctive
The present form uses the infinitive (uninflected) verb form.
 * Note that the verb to be will appear as be in the present subjunctive.
 * It is easy to identify present subjunctive mood when the subject is 3rd person singular as there will be no -s suffix.
 * For all other verbs, or with 1st person, 2nd person, or 3rd person plural, the only way to distinguish present subjunctive is by meaning or context.  In these cases, the present subjunctive is identical to the present tense.

Past Subjunctive
The past subjunctive only uses the verb to be.
 * In formal English: No matter the person or number of the subject, the verb appears as were.
 * In informal English:  To be appears in the past tense but may be inflected for number normally.

Present Subjunctive

 * 1) To express a wish or doubt.
 * 2) *This usage often includes a fixed expression:
 * 3) *"Try as I may..."  /  "Try as we might..."
 * 4) *"Come what may..."
 * 5) *"So be it."
 * 6) To introduce a proposal, resolution, or demand.
 * 7) *These follow verbs, nouns, or adjectives which require a noun clause beginning with that as a complement.
 * 8) *N.B.  The noun clause may be reduced and  the word that may not appear.
 * 9) *Proposal:  The teacher suggested that everyone practice the subjunctive mood.
 * 10) *Resolution:  The teacher decided it is necessary that everyone understand this topic thoroughly.
 * 11) *Demands:  The teacher required that everyone write at least three example sentences.

Past Subjunctive

 * 1) To indicate an unreal or hypothetical situation.
 * 2) *"If I were in charge, every child would study a foreign language."
 * 3) *"I wish I was better at public speaking."