Subjunctive

Study the following information.

The bare infinitive form of the subjunctive is used after certain verbs and expressions to give emphasis. These are the verbs: advise, ask, demand, insist, order, recommend, propose, request, require, suggest, and the expressions it’s essential, it’s imperative, it’s important, it’s necessary, it’s strange, it’s traditional, it’s vital, etc. followed by (that) + subject. In British English we normally use should + present (perfect) infinitive form of the subjunctive. E.g. It is essential (that) you (should) finish this work today.

1. Give the correct form of the infinitive in brackets. Some of the verbs are passive.

1. It is imperative that we ___________ (follow) his orders to the last letter. 2. He insisted that he ___________ (pay) for the meal. 3. He proposed that women __________ (admit) into the club. 4. It is important that you ___________ (take) the pills three times a day. 5. He demanded that no one else __________ (allow) to see the contract. 6. She recommended that we _________ (stay) at the office.

2. Turn the following sentences using the words in brackets.

1. ‘I would report the police,’ he said. (suggest) __________________ 2. ‘Let’s file a complaint,’ she said. (propose) __________________ 3. ‘Why not pay the damages?’ he said. (recommend) ___________________ 4. ‘Please, bring me the documents,’ Mr said. (request) _____________________ 5. ‘You must certify a copy of the contract,’ said Mr. Smith. (insist) _____________________ 6. ‘You should reduce the amount of food,’ the doctor said. (advise) _____________________

3. Choose the correct answer.

1. A: What is your opinion about Bob’s condition? B: I recommend ……as much as possible.

a) him resting; b) him rest; c) that he rests; d) that he rest;

2. A: Why does Ted need a tutor? B: Because it’s important …. in his exam.

a) that he do well; b) he well does; c) for him do; d) that he will do well;

3. A: Where is Jim? B: He was making so much noise that I requested ……

a) him leave; b) that he left; c) that he leaves; d) that he leave;

4. A: Did you hear that Mary’s plane is snowbound in Chicago? B: We suggested that she …. a train, but she wouldn’t listen.

a) would take; b) should take; c) took; d) takes;

5. A: Please, take this seat. B: No, I insist on …… it.

a) that you take; b) your taking; c) you take; d) you to take.

4. Before doing the exercise read the following explanations.

In formal English a group of verbs and adjectives are used to recommend, suggest, request, demand, express urgency, or necessity, etc., are commonly followed by a that clause with the bare infinitive or should + bare infinitive. E.g.

I recommend that your daughter (should) stop dieting.

It is necessary you (should) be here on time.

The Smiths insisted that we (should) stay with them.

Notice that in the first sentence the verb stop does not contain the third person singular –s (stops) but instead occurs in the bare infinitive form. In the third example, even though the main verb (insisted) is in the past, the following clause still contains the bare infinitive rather than the past tense form.

The following sentences are, therefore, considered incorrect in formal English, find the mistakes.

1. It is important that Peter has a legal degree for his new job. 2. The doctor recommended that the pregnant woman was taken to the hospital immediately.

Some verbs and adjectives, that can be followed by a that clause, can also be followed by a gerund or infinitive. Compare: I asked that he go. – I asked him to go. It’s important that we be there. – It’s important for us to be there. We insisted that he take his time. – We insisted on his taking his time.

This is not generally true of other verbs such as suggest. It is correct to say: I suggest that we meet at 9.00. – I suggest meeting at 9.00.

	That Clause	Infinitive	Gerund
I suggest recommend advise demand request insist	that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he(should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he(should) do	him to do. him to do.	his/him doing. doing. doing.     on his doing.
I urge ask require prefer	that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do.	him to go. him to go. him to go. to go.	going.
It is important urgent necessary essential imperative a good idea / suggestion / wish / order / demand / request / rule / arrangement	that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do. that he (should) do.	for him to do. for him to do. for him to do. for him to do. for him to do. for him to do.

5. Choose the correct answer.

1. ‘The telephone company is threatening to cut off our service.’ – ‘It’s urgent …. the bill.’

a) that we pay; b) us to pay; c) us paying; d) that we have to pay;

2. ‘What did the doctor tell you about her health?’ – He recommended … less.’

a) that she worked; b) that she work; c) her work; d) her working;

3. ‘Should I tell Mr. Forbes about the broken window?’ – ‘It’s necessary … before it rains.’

a) that he knows; b) he know; c) his knowing; d) him to know;

4. ‘We’ve just got a letter from Ron?’ – ‘It’s surprising that … to you after all these years.’

a) he still writes; b) he still write; c) still is writing; d) he still wring;

5. ‘What did the school officials tell Chuck?’ – ‘They insisted that…… a haircut.’

a) he got; b) he gets; c) he get; d) him to get;

6. ‘Who do you think should work on the project?’ – ‘I recommend … the consultant.’

a) for Victoria be; b) that Victoria be; c) that Victoria is; d) Victoria being;

7. ‘Should I begin typing these letters?’ – ‘I suggest … bookkeeping first.’

a) you finished; b) you to finish; c) you finish; d) you will finish6

8. ‘Did your granny give you a watch?’ – ‘Yes. She insisted …. it.

a) that I took; b) I will take; c) on my taking; d) for me to take;

9. ‘Have you received the shipment of goods yet?’ – ‘No, but it’s possible that it …. in a few days.’ a) will come; b) comes; c) come; d) has come;

10. ‘Marie practices the piano so early in the morning.’ – ‘We asked …., but she won’t.

a) that she stops; b) her stopping; c) her to stop; d) for her stop.

5. Study the following sentences. Decide if the italicized words of the sentences are correct.

1. Doctors recommend that a pregnant mother not take medicine if possible. 2. Many Americans requested that Martin Luther King’s birthday be made a national holiday. 3. The city council thinks it is imperative that the mayor will report the city streets soon. 4. The Laws now insist on that drunk drivers pay stiff fines and go to jail. 5. In the past men generally preferred that their wives worked in the home.

6. Translate into English.

1. Генрі вимагає, щоб ми все йому розповіли. 2. Керівник запропонував, щоб усі присутні перейшли до кімнати 101. 3. Грабіжник вимагав, щоб вони віддали йому всі гроші. 4. Я наполягаю, щоб ви обговорили всі умови відразу. 5. Він вимагав, щоб це питання вирішили якомога раніше. 6. Я пропоную, щоб ми поїхали за місто сьогодні. 7. Він попросив, щоб інформацію передали негайно. 8. Він запропонував, щоб зустріч призначили на завтра. 9. Було домовлено, що ми проведемо зимові канікули в селі. 10. Дуже важливо, щоб ви самі прийняли рішення. 11. Неможливо, щоб вона так думала. 12. Хто наказав, щоб зустріч скасували? 13. Ти думаєш мені необхідно залишитися вдома? 14. Бажано, щоб він прийшов вчасно. 15. Неможливо, щоб ви нічого не знали. 16. Важливо, щоб студенти виконували свої домашні завдання. 17. Чи можливо, щоб люди подорожували на Марс (Mars)? 18. Це звичайно, що американці їдять індичку на День подяки (Thanksgiving Day). 19. На офіційному обіді традиційно гості чекають, доки господиня не почне їсти. 20. Неможливо, щоб він говорив так.

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