The Subjunctive Mood

[vil]

Dear teachers,

I know that the Subjunctive Mood is used in object clauses when we find verbs and word-groups denoting order, suggestion, advice, desire, etc. in the principal clause. The analytical subjunctive with the mood auxiliary should is used.

On the one hand there are the following examples:

He orders (ordered) that everything should be ready by 5.
Mrs. Linton insisted that Isabela should go to bed.
She proposed to my aunt that we should go upstairs and see my room.
Mr. Micawber was very anxious that I should stay to dinner.

On the other hand there are further examples:

.. she insisted that they open a bottle of wine and toast his success.
The people demand that the resignation be accepted.

In American English we often find the Present Subjunctive in this case.
Would you be kind enough tell me which of the mentioned above practice is more proper. Probably the both are possible but which of them is more or less common?

Thank you in advance for your efforts.

Regards.

V.

[Soup]

Take a look here first, Learning English | BBC World Service.

You could also Google this topic mandative subjunctive - Google Search

[vil]

Hi Soup,

Thank you for placing at your post above the both very useful for me links. They are really worthy of note. I have keep a close watch on them and take into consideration their contents.



Thank you for your kindness.

Regards.

V

[riverkid]

Learning English | BBC World Service.

Julie from Argentina writes:

Could you please tell me if this use of suggest is grammatically correct?

The boss suggested we left early yesterday.

Thank you in advance for your answer.

==========
Roger Woodham replies:

It is perfectly correct, Julie. You could also say:

* The boss suggested (that) we leave early.
The boss suggested (that) we should leave early.

All these forms are possible with little or no difference in nuance, although the subjunctive form, suggested we leave, is a touch more formal.

Julie's example is perfectly correct but has Roger slipped up here in his comparison of the sentences?

1. "The boss suggested we left early yesterday."

is not a subjunctive, nor does it have the same meaning as the subjunctive forms in 2 & 3,

2. The boss suggested (that) we leave early.
3. The boss suggested (that) we should leave early.

Sentence 1 says that the boss thinks "we" actually did leave early yesterday, while sentences 2 & 3 say two possible things; that the boss thinks "we" do something, ie. leave early at some future time

OR

that someone is reporting that the boss said leaving early was permissible for some point in the past but this one doesn't say whether the leaving early actually occurred.

Is it possible that #1 can ever be glossed as meaning the same as 2 or 3?

[Soup]

... has Roger slipped up here in his comparison of the sentences?

It depends on how you interpret both responses.

Julie: Could you please tell me if this use of suggest is grammatically correct? Ex: The boss suggested [that] we [had] left early yesterday.

Roger: [The use of suggested] is perfectly correct, Julie. You could also [use suggested in these ways]:

• The boss suggested (that) we leave early.
  The boss suggested (that) we should leave early.

Having said that, Roger's next line All these forms does indeed "suggest" that he is referring to all three example sentences:

All these forms are possible with little or no difference in nuance, although the subjunctive form, suggested we leave, is a touch more formal.

This of course, and as you have noted, is not the case at all. "All" three do not express the same meaning. Perhaps he meant both these forms?

Let's ask Roger:
BBC Learning English | Contact us

[riverkid]

Let's ask Roger:
BBC Learning English | Contact us

You're on this like white on rice then, Soup?

[Soup]

Your query, not mine. Go for it.

[riverkid]

Your source, Soup, not mine. Be my guest.

[Soup]

Ah, the ol' Canadian pass the fish, eh?