the subjunctive

[balakrishnanijk]

1. The judge recommended that the prisoner be kept in prison for another three months.
2. The judge recommended that the prisoner should be kept in prison for another three months.
3. The judge recommended that the prisoner was kept in prison for another three months.
What is the difference between the three sentences?

[Harry Smith]

Originally Posted by balakrishnanijk

1. The judge recommended that the prisoner be kept in prison for another three months.
2. The judge recommended that the prisoner should be kept in prison for another three months.
3. The judge recommended that the prisoner was kept in prison for another three months.
What is the difference between the three sentences?

There is no difference between sentences #1 and #2.
There is a mistake in the third sentence.You should write like this:
The judge recommended the prisoner to be kept in prison for another three months.

[2006]

Only #1 is correct.
#2 is wrong because you can't use "recommended" with "should". You can use some other verbs, like 'think', with "should".
#3 is wrong because you can't use "recommended" with "was" or with other past tense verbs.

I don't agree with Harry Smith.

[Harry Smith]

I don't agree with Harry Smith either. I hate the Subjunctive mood!

[Teia]

Originally Posted by balakrishnanijk

1. The judge recommended that the prisoner be kept in prison for another three months.
2. The judge recommended that the prisoner should be kept in prison for another three months.
3. The judge recommended that the prisoner was kept in prison for another three months.
What is the difference between the three sentences?

The first two sentences are correct.
The third sentence is incorrect. The verb "reccomend" should be followed by subjunctive.
e.g. She reccomended that he see a doctor right away.

"Should be kept" - is stronger in emphasing the idea of keeping the prisoner in jail for another three months.

[2006]

Originally Posted by teia_petrescu

The first two sentences are correct.

"Should be kept" - is stronger in emphasing the idea of keeping the prisoner in jail for another three months.

I don't agree with you.

[Buddhaheart]

In BE, the indicative (base) form of the verb or ‘should’ + the subjunctive ‘be’ is actually used in the subjunctive mood whereas only the subjunctive form is permitted in rather formal AE. ‘Should be kept’ is therefore considered correct in BE and only ‘be kept’ is allowed in AE.

Many of you already voiced your opinion & will continue to disagree. This represents only my view after examining a few British and American grammar books.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by 2006

I don't agree with you.

Well, what is the explanation?

[Teia]

Originally Posted by Buddhaheart

In BE, the indicative (base) form of the verb or ‘should’ + the subjunctive ‘be’ is actually used in the subjunctive mood whereas only the subjunctive form is permitted in rather formal AE. ‘Should be kept’ is therefore considered correct in BE and only ‘be kept’ is allowed in AE.

Many of you already voiced your opinion & will continue to disagree. This represents only my view after examining a few British and American grammar books.

You are right. Here is what I read about it :
The word `should` is sometimes used to express the idea of subjunctiveness. This form is used more in British English and is most common after verbs "suggest", "recommend" and "insist".

Thank you.