Year 6 English 6.1.21

Today we will be writing a letter from an anonymous (unknown person) to the local councillor complaining about the conditions at the work house and with suggestions and demands on how to improve them.

• The subjunctive form sounds scarier than it actually is.

• The subjunctive form is mostly used in formal language(if you were the queen for example).

• It can be used to give advice or talk about unreal (hypothetical) situations.

Advice • Advise • Ask • Command • Demand • Insist • Propose • Recommend • Request

Hypothetical situations • Desire • Wish • Hope • Dream

To advise • Advise • Ask • Command • Demand

• Insist • Propose • Recommend • Request

Noun/Pronoun

Verb (can change for tense etc)

That

Noun/Pronoun

I She We They He

propose demanded command insist recommend

that that that that that

dad he she John the school team

Infinitive verb (must always be in root form for the subjunctive to be grammatically correct) listen be write have attend

Hypothetical situations • • • •

Desire Wish Hope Dream

If

Noun/pronoun

were

situation

If

I

were

rich

If

I

were

famous

If

he

were

to attend their party

If

they

were

going to book the holiday

Which is written in the subjunctive?

• If I were chosen, I would do my best.

Or • If I was chosen, I would do my best.

Which is written in the subjunctive?

• We ask that you postpone the match due to the rain.

Or • We have asked for the match to be postponed due to the rain.

Have a go at writing a few of your own pieces of advice/demands using the table below for support

Have a go at writing your own hypothetical situation using the table below to support you.

Have a think about what is wrong with the work house.

Is it clean?

Do the children get fed?

Do they get looked after?

Do the ever get beaten?

Are the children allowed to play?

Are they safe?

Do they have comfortable beds to sleep in?

Does anyone comfort them when they are upset?

Use your answers to these questions to help you write your letter.

Here is a model of a letter using the subjunctive form.

Dear Councillor, I am writing to you to inform you about the awful conditions the young boys and girls of London are experiencing in the local workhouse. I find it tragic that, in this day and age, the orphans of our society are subjected to such squalid living conditions. I have thought long and hard about how this can be rectified and will be sharing my thoughts and suggestions in this letter. I advise that you listen to the suggestions in this letter and make the changes.

First of all, the children are kept in damp, dark bedrooms; it is no wonder they are constantly ill and have snotty noses. I request that you employ builders to come in and fix up their rooms. If I were you, I would do this quickly as it is not just me that has noticed the state of these children. It has been noted that the children sleep on the concrete floor on sacks. I demand that you build these children proper beds and ensure that they are getting a good night sleep; they have huge black bags under their eyes and their yawning is contagious.

I have had the misfortune to taste some of the so-called food you serve those poor children. It is lucky for you that they haven’t all died of food poisoning. I propose that your cook learn how to make proper meals so these children get the nutrition that they need. If I were your cook, I would be ashamed of the meals that she has been dishing out. It beggars belief that any child dare actually ask for more.

Can you see advice given in the subjunctive form? Can you see the infinitive form of the verb being used? Can you see any other skills within the model?