The Probert Encyclopaedia of General Information

SUBJUNCTIVE

In grammar, a subjunctive is the mood of contingency or uncertainty, preceded by a conjunction expressed or understood, for example 'were he alive', 'be that as it may', 'if I were you' or 'if it be'. In most languages subjunctives play an important part, but in English almost the only used subjunctives are 'be' and 'were'.
Research Subjunctive