The Subjunctive Worksheet: Year 6 SATs SPaG

Year 6 SATs SPaG worksheet on the subjunctive: 8 questions in the style of the SATs, with answers. Free PDF.

3-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank (Verbs and tense): two pages of questions (tick one) and an answer page. Example questions: Which sentence contains a subjunctive verb? Tick one. / Which sentence does NOT use the subjunctive? Tick one.

What is the subjunctive? The subjunctive is a verb form used in formal writing for wishes, suggestions, demands and hypothetical situations. It appears in phrases such as If I were you (not If I was you) and It is essential that he be on time. After words such as demand, insist, suggest and important that, the verb takes its base form: The rules require that she withdraw her application.

Common mistakes and tips: Children find the subjunctive odd because it often sounds wrong to them (if I were, that he withdraw). Others use it where it isn’t needed. Teach the two main patterns explicitly: ‘if I were’ and ‘that + base form’ after verbs of demand. In the SATs, questions usually ask pupils to identify or choose the subjunctive form.

This topic is part of the Year 6 English grammar, punctuation and spelling curriculum and appears in the SATs. Because the test uses precise terminology, practising with the correct terms here helps children recognise what a question is asking.

How teachers use it: as a ten-minute daily grammar slot, as a homework task, or as part of a mixed revision pack in the run-up to the SATs. Pairs can work through it and compare answers before checking the answer page. Revisiting the same topic a few weeks later is an effective way to check retention.

Building understanding, not just recognition: the SATs ask children to identify features, but the real aim is for them to use grammar confidently in their own writing. After completing the sheet, ask pupils to find examples of the topic in a class text and discuss why the author used them. Then set a short writing task where the feature must be used deliberately, such as a paragraph of a story or a piece of non-fiction. Shared editing, where the class improves a weak sentence together, is a powerful way to show the effect of a grammatical choice. Linking grammar to purpose and effect helps children remember the terminology, because it becomes a tool rather than a label.