An efficient method for determining forced responses of a general linear structural system in time domain using subtructure modes and Lagrange multipliers is presented. Compared with the conventional mode synthesis methods, the suggested method does not construct the equations of motion of the combined whole structure and thus the modal parameters of the whole structure are not required. Only modal parameters of each substructure and geometric compatibility conditions are needed. Both the loaded interface free-free modes and free interface modes can be employed as the modal bases of each substructure. Recurrence discrete-time state equations based upon state transition matrix are formulated for the transient analysis of a parameter-changing system. It is shown form numerical examples that the suggested method is very accurate and efficient to calculate transient responses compares with the direct numerical integration method.