Conditional vs. Subjunctive: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Conditional mood expresses hypothetical situations or outcomes based on certain conditions, while subjunctive mood indicates wishes, doubts, or hypotheticals, often contrary to fact.
Key Differences
The conditional mood is used to express possible or hypothetical situations and their consequences, while the subjunctive mood is often used to express desires, doubts, wishes, or hypotheticals, especially those contrary to fact.
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Nov 18, 2023
Conditional sentences typically use "if" and include would, could, or might, showing potential outcomes. The subjunctive mood is formed with verbs like were, be, or had in a form that doesn't indicate a specific time.
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Conditional: "If I had time, I would travel." Subjunctive: "I wish I were traveling."
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Conditional mood often deals with real possibilities, whereas the subjunctive mood usually explores situations that are imagined or wished for.
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The use and complexity of the conditional and subjunctive moods vary widely across languages, with some languages having more distinct forms and uses than others.
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Comparison Chart
Function
Indicates hypothetical situations
Expresses wishes, doubts, or hypotheticals
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Key Words
Often uses "if," "would," "could," "might"
Often uses "were," "be," "had"
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Reality Connection
Related to real or plausible situations
Often contrary to actual facts
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Sentence Structure
"If" clause followed by a result clause
Verb form that doesn’t indicate specific time
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Example Usage
"If it rains, we will cancel the trip."
"I suggest that he be invited."
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Conditional and Subjunctive Definitions
Conditional
Relating to conditions or circumstances.
If I had known, I would have acted differently.
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Subjunctive
Conveying doubt, possibility, or uncertainty.
It's important that she be present.
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Conditional
In logic, relating to an if-then proposition.
In a conditional statement, if A is true, then B is also true.
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Subjunctive
Expressing hypothetical or non-factual conditions.
If I were rich, I would travel the world.
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Conditional
Dependent on or subject to a condition.
Her agreement was conditional upon their cooperation.
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Subjunctive
Used after certain expressions of necessity or suggestion.
It is essential that he arrive on time.
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Conditional
In grammar, a mood expressing a condition.
He would go if he could.
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Subjunctive
A mood used to express wishes, suggestions, or commands.
I suggest that he study more.
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Conditional
Speculative or not guaranteed.
Their support is conditional on our compliance.
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Subjunctive
Of, relating to, or being a mood of a verb used in some languages for contingent or hypothetical action, action viewed subjectively, or grammatically subordinate statements.
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Subjunctive
Inflected to indicate that an act or state of being is possible, contingent or hypothetical, and not a fact.
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Conditional
A mood, tense, clause, word, or morpheme expressing a condition. See Usage Note at if.
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Conditional
Limited by a condition.
I made my son a conditional promise: I would buy him a bike if he kept his room tidy.
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Conditional
(logic) Stating that one sentence is true if another is.
"A implies B" is a conditional statement.
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Conditional
(grammar) Expressing a condition or supposition.
A conditional word, mode, or tense
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Conditional
(grammar) A conditional sentence; a statement that depends on a condition being true or false.
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Subjunctive
A mood that represent an act or state (not as a fact but) as contingent or possible
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Conditional
(logic) A statement that one sentence is true if another is.
"A implies B" is a conditional.
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Subjunctive
In grammar, a verb form differing from the indicative and imperative.
If he were faster, he could win the race.
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Conditional
(programming) An instruction that branches depending on the truth of a condition at that point.
if and while are conditionals in some programming languages.Shumaila Saeed
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Conditional
Containing, implying, or depending on, a condition or conditions; not absolute; made or granted on certain terms; as, a conditional promise.
Every covenant of God with man . . . may justly be made (as in fact it is made) with this conditional punishment annexed and declared.
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Conditional
Expressing a condition or supposition; as, a conditional word, mode, or tense.
A conditional proposition is one which asserts the dependence of one categorical proposition on another.
The words hypothetical and conditional may be . . . used synonymously.
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Conditional
A conditional word, mode, or proposition.
Disjunctives may be turned into conditionals.
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Conditional
Imposing or depending on or containing a condition;
Conditional acceptance of the terms
Lent conditional support
The conditional sale will not be complete until the full purchase price is paid
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is the conditional mood?
It expresses possible or hypothetical situations.
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What verbs are typical in subjunctive sentences?
"Were," "be," and "had" are typical.
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What verbs are common in conditional sentences?
"Would," "could," and "might" are common.
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What does the subjunctive mood express?
Wishes, doubts, and hypothetical situations.
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When is conditional mood typically used?
In "if" scenarios suggesting possible outcomes.
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Is the subjunctive mood common in English?
Less so, but it's used in formal or written contexts.
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What’s an example of the subjunctive mood?
"If I were king, I would change the law."
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Can the conditional mood be factual?
It's usually speculative, not always factual.
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How is the conditional mood formed?
Usually with an "if" clause and a main clause.
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Are conditional sentences always hypothetical?
They often are, but can be based on real possibilities.
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Is the conditional mood easy to identify?
Generally, yes, through its characteristic structure.
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How do you recognize the subjunctive mood?
Through its unique verb forms and contexts of use.
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Is conditional mood used in daily speech?
Yes, especially in discussions about possible scenarios.
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Can conditional statements be complex?
Yes, they can involve multiple conditions and outcomes.
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Is the subjunctive mood about reality?
No, it's more about what's imagined or desired.
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Is the subjunctive mood fading in modern English?
Its use is declining, particularly in informal contexts.
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Do all languages use the subjunctive mood?
Many do, but its use and form vary widely.
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What is the structure of a subjunctive sentence?
It uses a specific verb form, often in a wish or suggestion.
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Can conditional sentences predict the future?
They can suggest possible future outcomes.
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What types of sentences use the subjunctive?
Sentences expressing wishes, demands, or suggestions.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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Hifza Nasir
