8.6 Subjunctive

Subjunctive verb forms are used to describe desirability, possibility, probability, uncertainty, or a wish about some future action or event.

Structure

When we drop ਗਾ, ਗੇ, ਗੀ, ਗੀਆਂ from future it becomes subjunctive, except the 1st person ਅਸੀਂ. For 1st person pronoun ਅਸੀਂ, the conjugation is:

• Verb stem + ੀਏ: If the stem ends with a consonant
• Verb stem + ਈਏ: If the stem ends with a vowel.

See the following chart for more clarity:

Rules

1. As you see the above chart, there is no gender in subjunctive.
2. The verb agrees with the subject, noun, pronoun, & persons, but not with gender.

Examples:

• ਕੀ ਮੈਂ ਹੁਣ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ ਜਾਵਾਂ? (May I go to the office now?)
• ਅਸੀਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮਦਦ ਕਰੀਏ? (Shall/should we help you?)
• ਕੀ ਉਹ ਮਠਿਆਈਆਂ ਖਾਣ? (Shall/should they eat sweets?)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਹ ਅੱਜ ਇੱਕ ਫਿਲਮ ਦੇਖੇ। (She/He may watch a movie for today.)

In negative sentences, ਨਾ is used just before the verb.

Examples:

• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਹ ਅੰਦਰ ਨਾ ਆਵੇ। (Perhaps he/she may not come in.)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅਸੀਂ ਇੱਥੇ ਕੰਮ ਨਾ ਕਰੀਏ। (Perhaps we may not work here?)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅੱਜ ਮੀਂਹ ਨਾ ਪਵੇ। (Perhaps it may not rain today.)

Uses of Subjunctive

To Express Desirability

Examples:

• ਆਓ ਫਿਲਮ ਦੇਖੀਏ। (Let’s see a film today.)
• ਆਓ ਚਾਹ ਪੀਈਏ। (Let’s have a tea.)

To Take Permission

Examples:

• (ਕੀ) ਮੈਂ ਹੁਣ ਘਰ ਜਾਵਾਂ? (May I go home now?)
• (ਕੀ) ਮੈਂ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਲਈ ਚਾਹ ਬਣਾਵਾਂ? (May I make tea for you?)

To Wish About Something

The word ਕਾਸ਼– comes in the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

• ਕਾਸ਼ ਮੈਂ ਵੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਜਾਵਾਂ। (Oh… if I could go to India.)
• ਕਾਸ਼ ਉਹ ਘਰ ਹੋਵੇ। (I wish he/she be at home.)

Let’s Construction

In the “let’s” construction, the sentence begins with ਚਲੋ and ਆਪਾਂ (we) is used instead of ਅਸੀਂ।. ਆਪਾਂ is used colloquially, which can be simply translated as “we,” and it gives the sense of “all.”

Examples:

• ਚਲੋ (ਆਪਾਂ) ਖਾਣਾ ਖਾਈਏ। (Let’s (we all) eat food.)
• ਚਲੋ (ਆਪਾਂ) ਘੁੰਮਣ ਚਲੀਏ। (Let’s (we all) go for a walk.)

To Express Probability/Uncertainty

Examples:

• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅੱਜ ਉਹ ਸਾਡੇ ਘਰ ਆਵੇ। (Perhaps he/she may come to our house today.)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅਸੀਂ ਬਜ਼ਾਰ ਜਾਈਏ। (Perhaps we may go to the market.)

To Express Wishes/Blessings/Curses

• ਜਨਮਦਿਨ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ ਹੋਵੇ! (Wish you a happy birthday!)
• ਨਵਾਂ ਸਾਲ ਮੁਬਾਰਕ ਹੋਵੇ! (Wish you a happy new year!)

Uses of Subjunctive with Fixed Phrases

Subjunctive in Subordinate Clauses

Subjunctive case can be used in subordinate clause to express desire and possibility.

“X” Wants “Y” to Do Something

Examples:

• ਮੈਂ ਚਾਹੁੰਦਾ/ਚਾਹੁੰਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਕਿ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਭਾਰਤ ਜਾਵੋ। (I want you to go to India.)
• ਅਧਿਆਪਕ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ ਹਨ ਕਿ ਅਸੀਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲੀਏ। (Teachers want us to speak Punjabi.)

Subjunctive Case in Imperfect & Perfect Aspect

In order to use subjunctive case in imperfective and perfective aspect, a subjunctive form of ਹੋਣਾ is added as an auxiliary to the habitual, progressive, or perfective forms of the main verb.

Simple Subjunctive

Examples:

• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਅਸੀਂ ਭਾਰਤ ਜਾਈਏ। (Perhaps we may go to India.)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਬੱਚੇ ਪਾਰਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੇਡਣ। (Perhaps children may play in the park.)

Subjunctive Habitual

Examples:

• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਹ ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਪੜ੍ਹਦਾ ਹੋਵੇ। (Perhaps he learns/used to learn Punjabi in Chandigarh.)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਹ ਸਾਰੀ ਰਾਤ ਪੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਹੋਵੇ। (Perhaps she studies whole night.)

Subjunctive Progressive

Examples:

• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਹ ਬੱਚੇ ਫਿਲਮ ਦੇਖ ਰਹੇ ਹੋਣ। (Perhaps the children may be watching some movie.)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਹ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੋਵੇ। (Perhaps he may be studying.)

Subjunctive Perfective

Examples:

• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਸਨੇ ਉੱਥੇ ਕੰਮ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੋਵੇ। (Perhaps he/she may have worked there.)
• ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਉਸਨੇ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕੁੱਝ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੋਵੇ। (Perhaps he may have said something to you.)

Subjunctive with Conjunction: ਤਾਂ ਕਿ (So That)

• ਤਾਂ ਕਿ (so that) is used with the single subject.
• 1st clause (action clause) blank ਤਾਂ ਕਿ blan 2nd clause in subjunctive (purpose)

Examples:

• ਮੈਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਸਿਖਦਾ/ਸਿਖਦੀ ਹਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲ ਸਕਾਂ। (I learn Punjabi so that I can speak Punjabi in Punjab.)
• ਉਹ ਪੜ੍ਹਦਾ/ਪੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਹੈ ਤਾਂ ਕਿ ਵਧੀਆ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਲੈ ਸਕੇ। (He/she studies so that he/she can get a better job.)

Test Yourself

Activity 1: Writing (To Express Desirability)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive used to express desirability

Activity 2: Writing (To Take Permission)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive used to take permission.

Activity 3: Writing (To Wish About Something)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive used to wish something.

Activity 4: Writing (To Express Probability/Uncertainty)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive used to express probability/uncertainty.

Activity 5: Writing (To Express Wishes/Blessings/Curses)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive used to express wishes/blessings/curses.

Activity 6: Writing (Fixed Phrases)

Add two more examples with each fixed phrase.

Activity 7: Writing (“X” Wants “Y” to Do Something)

Add three more examples of the use of the subjunctive in subordinate clause to express desire and possibility

Activity 8: Writing (Subjunctive Habitual)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive habitual.

Activity 9: Writing (Subjunctive Progressive)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive progressive.

Activity 10: Writing (Subjunctive Perfective)

Add three more examples of the subjunctive perfective.

Activity 11: Writing (Subjunctive with Conjunction)

Add three more examples of the use of the subjunctive with the conjunction ਤਾਂ ਕਿ.

Activity 12: Transform into Subjunctive and Negative

Transform the following sentences into subjunctive. After transforming, please change your sentences to negative.

Activity 13: Choose the Answers

Activity 14: Listening

Pre-Listening Activity

Learn/review the following vocabulary.

Listening

Watch the video carefully. Notice the verbs in subjunctive form.

Post-Listening Activity

Write dialogues and mark the verbs which are in subjunctive forms. Check your answer with the answer sheet (PDF).

ਧੰਨਵਾਦ!