Joy English · Level C2 · Subjunctivejoy-english.com

The mandative subjunctive and formulaic subjunctives

Name:Date:

Use the bare-form subjunctive after verbs and adjectives of demand, and recognise fixed phrases such as come what may.

Choose the correct form

Choose the option that is correct in formal, careful writing, using the mandative subjunctive wherever it is called for.

The board has recommended that the director ___ his post until the audit is complete.
- a) relinquish
- b) has relinquished
- c) is relinquishing
- d) relinquishing
It is vital that every sample ___ labelled before it leaves the laboratory.
- a) is being
- b) are
- c) be
- d) to be
The lawyer requested that his client ___ questioned without a representative present.
- a) be not
- b) not be
- c) not to be
- d) is not
Ayesha insisted that the figures ___ correct, though nobody believed her.
- a) be
- b) being
- c) to be
- d) were
Costs may rise, but we shall finish the bridge, ___ what may.
- a) come
- b) comes
- c) coming
- d) came
The regulations require that each applicant ___ over eighteen.
- a) is
- b) has been
- c) be
- d) will be
She talks about the city as though she ___ a native, but she arrived last year.
- a) has been
- b) is
- c) were
- d) would be
It is essential that no child ___ unsupervised near the water.
- a) leaves
- b) leave
- c) left
- d) is leaving

Type the missing word or words. Where a verb is given in brackets, use the form that is correct in formal writing.

a) relinquishAfter recommend, the subjunctive uses the base form: that the director relinquish. The other options are not possible after this pattern.
c) beAfter vital, a that-clause takes the base form be. The plural form are does not agree with every sample.
b) not beIn the subjunctive, not comes before the verb: that his client not be questioned.
d) wereHere insisted means "claimed", so the verb keeps its normal past tense. The base form be would mean she demanded that they be correct.
a) comeCome what may is a fixed subjunctive phrase meaning "whatever happens".
c) beAfter require, the subjunctive base form be is the formal choice.
c) wereAs though introduces an unreal comparison (she is not a native), which takes the were-subjunctive in careful writing.
b) leaveThe base form leave follows essential that. Note that the negative idea is carried by no child, so no extra not is needed.

apologise / apologize / should apologise / should apologizeAfter demand, the subjunctive uses the base form, with no -s and no tense; British English also accepts should apologise.
not be / should not be / shouldn't beThe negative subjunctive is not be. British English also allows should not be.
wereThe were-subjunctive is used for unreal conditions, even with I.
toSuffice it to say is a fixed subjunctive phrase meaning "I will only say this much".
take / should takeA noun such as recommendation can trigger the subjunctive. British English also accepts should take.
fromFar be it from me to is a formal, slightly ironic phrase used before a criticism.
wereAfter as if for an unreal comparison, formal writing uses were; was is common in informal speech but not in formal writing.
beIf need be is a fixed phrase meaning "if it is necessary".