Subjunctive mood

Solution 1:

The subjuntive is quite common in the US (and required for proper grammar in formal contexts).

It's taught in our public schools and most of us are pretty adept at using the subjunctive for conditionals/suggestions/hypotheticals, even in casual conversations.

The rephrased example in the indicative mood (i.e., "I suggest that he implements ...") sounds horrid to my American ear. To me that's not at all grammatically correct. Most Americans would use "implement" in that sentence instead.

The example with "suggest" would occur more frequently. The bare infintive "be" is used commonly too though, albeit slightly less common.

The verb most commonly used in AmE with the subjunctive mood is "were," as in, "If I were to win the lottery, I'd buy a new car." It's most common in the first person singular, but it does occur in the 3rd person as in, "If she were to get her teeth fixed, she'd be much prettier."

In your case:

"If he were to (-or- should he) implement a new budget, we'd increase our gross profit margin."

"Were he to implement the new budget, he'd drastically improve his unit's performance."

"He might implement the new budget were I to (-or- if I were to) provide him additional support."

etc.

We tend to contract auxiliaries and modals in the US whenever possible in all but the most formal speech/writing. Obviously this is dialogue, so I opted for less formal.

Anecdotally, I find that Americans are more self-conscious about being perceived as stupid or uneducated. We are concerned about people thinking we can't speak proper English.

Solution 2:

In UK English at least, the following are all generally used to some extent with the functions of languages that have subjunctive forms (N.B. it's not so much that English necessarily has 'subjunctive' forms as such, but more that these other structures are equivalents):

(1) The infinitive ("I suggest he implement it")

(2) The ordinary conjugated verb form ("I suggest he implements it")

(3) A modal ("I suggest he should/might/ought to implement it")

(4) The infinitive specified with "for" + subject ("I suggest for him to implement it")

(5) An -ing form ("I suggest him implementing it")

Now, which is possible/common depends on the host construction and on the precise intent: "I suggest [he does it]" and "I suggest [him doing it] (as a solution)" have different syntax and different nuances; as subjects of verbs, (1) and (2) are not possible, etc.

Solution 3:

I'm not sure what you mean exactly by "this form" unless you mean using the subjunctive generally in modern English. Several common uses come to mind:

• Be that as it may...
• Should that be the case...
• It's best that he leave now.

Many of the uses of the subjunctive in English occur in expressions, such as the above. They can usually be rewritten without using the subjunctive fairly easily:

• Although that is true...
• If that is the case...
• He should (needs to) leave now.

For your examples:

• He should implement a budget cut in March.
• It is essential for them to be heard.
• They need to be heard.

As for how common using the subjunctive is, I would suggest that it is more common in academic settings, formal writing (including legal and ceremonial settings) and among people who speak in a more formal manner. A quick search will reveal many sources for common uses of the subjunctive:

• Wikipedia article on the English Subjunctive.
• A helpful guide from a website that doesn't appear to be associated with any particular group.
• And of course, Google (try searching for "uses of the English subjunctive").

I'm limited to two links right now so I'm afraid that's all I can share.