The base verb after demands and recommendations, were for unreal situations, and fixed formulas such as so be it. Demands take the base verb in the that clause, with no ‑s and no tense: I insist that she go. It is vital that he be told.
No information at the current level. This view starts at C1: choose C1 or a higher level.
No information at the current level. This view starts at C1: choose C1 or a higher level.
CheatsheetC1–C2
| Point | Rule | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form | that + subject + base verb; one form for every person | The school insists that he wear a tie. | C1 |
| Negative and passive | not goes before the verb; the passive is be + past participle | I suggest that he not go. / It is vital that it be checked. | C1 |
| After verbs | suggest, recommend, insist, demand, require and request call for it | The doctor recommends that she rest more. | C1 |
| After adjectives and nouns | essential, vital, important and necessary; nouns such as requirement and proposal | It is essential that everyone be on time. | C1 |
| British and American | American English prefers the bare verb; British English often adds should | We recommend that she should apply. (US: apply) | C1 |
| Were | were follows every subject after if, as if and wish | I wish it were Friday. | C1 |
| Lest | lest is formal and takes the base verb or should | She whispered lest the baby wake. | C1 |
| Fixed formulas | old formulas keep the bare verb and are quoted whole | I'll be there, come what may. / Suffice it to say that we lost. | C2 |
| Be-clauses | be opens a formal concession with two alternatives | Be it large or small, every gift helps. | C2 |
| Formal texts | orders, resolutions and motions keep the bare verb | I move that the minutes be approved. | C2 |
| Proverbs | short sayings keep an older order and the bare verb | Waste not, want not. | C2 |
| Trap | suggest takes a that clause or ‑ing | I suggest that he go. / I suggest going early. | C1 |
OverviewC1–C2
- The subjunctive is the bare base verb, the same for every person and every time. The board asks that every member vote.
- It names what is wanted, needed, proposed or imagined.
- Formal writing and speech use it most; everyday speech often chooses should or an ordinary verb.
- C2It survives in fixed formulas, be-clauses, legal language and proverbs, which speakers quote whole.
Form: the base verbC1
| Subject | Subjunctive | Ordinary verb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | that I be | that I am | C1 |
| he, she, it | that she be | that she is | C1 |
| we, you, they | that they be | that they are | C1 |
| he, she, it with other verbs | that she stop | that she stops | C1 |
| Form | Pattern | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statement | that + subject + base verb | I insist that she go home. | C1 |
| Negative | that + subject + not + base verb | I suggest that he not go. | C1 |
| Passive | that + subject + be + past participle | It is vital that the form be signed. | C1 |
- The main verb may be in any tense; the verb in the that clause stays in the base form: He insists that she go. / He insisted that she go.
- Passive forms are in Passive Voice.
Use: demands and recommendationsC1
| Use | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| A demand or an order: demand, insist, require, order, stipulate | The law requires that every driver carry a licence. / She insisted that he apologise. | C1 |
| A request or an appeal: ask, request, urge | They asked that the meeting be moved to Friday. / I urge that you reconsider. | C1 |
| A suggestion or advice: suggest, recommend, propose, advise | I recommend that she see a specialist. / He proposed that we meet earlier. | C1 |
| A need after it is + adjective + that: essential, vital, important, necessary, desirable | It is essential that everyone be on time. / It is desirable that the report be short. | C1 |
| A demand named by a noun: requirement, recommendation, proposal, request, insistence | Her request that the date be changed was refused. / The proposal that he step down was rejected. | C1 |
- that is optional after the verbs: I recommend (that) you wait.
- Reported demands and requests are in Reported Speech.
Compare: British and American choicesC1
| Point | that he go | that he should go | that he goes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style | formal British; the usual American choice | the usual British choice | informal British | C1 |
| Example | The school demands that he wear a tie. | The school demands that he should wear a tie. | The school demands that he wears a tie. | C1 |
| Negative | I suggest that he not go. | I suggest that he should not go. | I suggest that he doesn't go. | C1 |
- British should also follows odd and strange, as a comment on a fact: see Should.
Compare: suggest with a clause and with ‑ingC1
| Point | suggest that he go | suggest going | suggest his going | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who acts | another person | the speaker too, or anyone | another person | C1 |
| Style | neutral or formal | neutral; the usual choice | formal; rare in speech | C1 |
| Example | I suggest that he go early. | I suggest going early. | I suggest his going early. | C1 |
Compare: a demand and a statementC1
| Point | Demand | Statement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meaning | what the subject wants or advises | what the speaker reports or shows | C1 |
| Verb | the base verb | an ordinary tense | C1 |
| insist | He insisted that she apologise. | He insisted that she had apologised. | C1 |
| suggest | I suggest that she go. | Her smile suggests that she is happy. | C1 |
Use: wereC1
| Use | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| An unreal present after if | If she were here, she would help. | C1 |
| A comparison with as if and as though | He talks as if he were the manager. | C1 |
| An unreal wish with wish and if only | I wish it were Friday. / If only he were here! | C1 |
- Only be has a separate unreal form, were; other verbs use the past tense. I wish I were taller. / I wish I knew the answer.
- Speech often puts was for were after I, he, she and it; formal writing keeps were. If it were mine, I would sell it. / If it was mine, I'd sell it.
- Wishes with the other unreal tenses are in Wishes and Unreal Tenses.
- More conditionals with if are in Conditionals.
Use: lest, fear and cautionC1
| Use | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| A danger to avoid: lest + subject + base verb | She spoke quietly lest she wake the baby. / Write it down lest you forget. | C1 |
| The British form with should: lest + subject + should + base verb | He wrote it down lest he should forget. | C1 |
| for fear that with should, would or might | She hid the letter for fear that he should read it. / He whispered for fear that someone might hear him. | C1 |
| A precaution against a chance event: in case with should | Take a coat in case it should rain. | C1 |
- lest carries the negative itself, so its clause has no not.
- Everyday speech says in case it rains and so that you don't forget.
Fixed formulas: wishes and reactionsC2
| Formula | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| God save the King | a wish for a ruler's long life | “God save the King!” shouted the crowd. | C2 |
| Long live + noun | a cheer for a person, a group or an idea | “Long live the champions!” they cried. | C2 |
| So be it | I accept it, though I may not like it | If you won't change your mind, so be it. | C2 |
| Heaven forbid | I hope it never happens | If he fails, heaven forbid, we start again. | C2 |
| Perish the thought | I reject the idea | Me, late for my own wedding? Perish the thought! | C2 |
- Each formula keeps the bare verb with any subject: God save the King, with no ‑s.
Fixed formulas: framing a statementC2
| Formula | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be that as it may | even if that is true, I go on | Be that as it may, we still have to decide. | C2 |
| Come what may | whatever happens | I'll support you, come what may. | C2 |
| Far be it from me to… | a polite opening before advice or criticism | Far be it from me to interfere, but the sign says no parking. | C2 |
| Suffice it to say | I will give only the main point | Suffice it to say that we were not impressed. | C2 |
| If need be | if it is necessary | We'll work on Sunday if need be. | C2 |
| as it were | so to speak, softening an unusual word | She is, as it were, the heart of the team. | C2 |
Be-clauses and would thatC2
| Use | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| Two alternatives, and either one holds: Be + subject + adjective + or + adjective | Be it large or small, every gift helps. / Be he rich or poor, he pays the same fee. | C2 |
| The same in a whether clause | The match will go ahead, whether it be rain or snow. | C2 |
| A formal concession with though | The gift, though it be small, was welcome. | C2 |
| A wish that cannot come true: Would that | Would that he were here. | C2 |
- In a be-clause the subject follows be: be it, be he, be they.
- Speech and plain writing say whether it is large or small.
Formal, legal and meeting languageC2
| Use | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| A court order | It is ordered that the defendant appear in person. | C2 |
| A resolution in minutes | Resolved that the meeting be adjourned. | C2 |
| A motion in a meeting | I move that the minutes be approved. | C2 |
| A contract or a regulation | The lease stipulates that the tenant give one month's notice. | C2 |
- Formal documents keep the bare verb in British and American English alike.
- The verb stays in the base form when the main verb is in the past: The court ordered that the defendant appear in person.
Proverbs and inherited formsC2
| Saying | Meaning | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waste not, want not | save what you have and you will not go without | Keep the leftovers: waste not, want not. | C2 |
| Least said, soonest mended | the less said about a quarrel, the sooner it is forgotten | Don't mention it again: least said, soonest mended. | C2 |
| Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home | however modest, home is best | Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. | C2 |
| Long may + subject + base verb | a wish that something lasts | Long may our friendship last. | C2 |
- Speakers quote these sayings whole; new sentences take the ordinary word order.
- More wishes with may are in May and Might.
Typical errorsC1–C2
| Wrong | Right | Rule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I suggest him to go. | I suggest that he go. | suggest takes a that clause for another person's action | C1 |
| He suggested to take a taxi. | He suggested taking a taxi. | suggest takes ‑ing when the speaker is among the doers | C1 |
| They demand that he will pay. | They demand that he pay. | the clause after a demand takes the base verb alone | C1 |
| She spoke quietly lest she did not wake the baby. | She spoke quietly lest she wake the baby. | lest carries the negative, so its clause has no not | C1 |
| Far be it for me to criticise. | Far be it from me to criticise. | the formula is far be it from me to | C2 |
| God saves the King. | God save the King. | the formula keeps the bare verb | C2 |
| I move that the motion is carried. | I move that the motion be carried. | a motion takes the base verb be | C2 |
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