Subjunctive in Dutch
The subjunctive in Dutch is a verb mood typically used in dependent clauses to express a wish, command, emotion, possibility, uncertainty, doubt, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred. It is also referred to as the conjunctive mood () as it often follows a conjunction. As in English the subjunctive mood in Dutch has gradually been replaced by modal auxiliary verbs. As a consequence of this, its contemporary use is mostly—but not completely—confined to set phrases and semi-fixed expressions. Readers of older Dutch texts frequently encounter the use of the subjunctive, especially in legal, judicial, literary and religious texts. Formation Present subjunctive (OTT), imperfect present tense: First person: present root + e () or if the root ends on a vowel: root () Second person: present root +et or root +e: ', , Third person: present root +e: Plural: present infinitive: VTT: OTT of or + past participle: , . Past subjunctive (OVT), imperfect past tense: First person: past root + e: . Second person: past root + e: . Plural: past infinitive: . One exception: the past subjunctive of the Dutch verb ('to become') is , not . VVT: OVT of ('to have') or ('to be')