GRAMMAR REVIEW 2.

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
Present Subjunctive: The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used
after certain expressions.
E.g: - I suggest that he study/ should study.
- Is it essential that we be/ should be there?
- Don recommended that you join/ should join the committee.
1. Verbs Followed by the Subjunctive:
to advise (that) to ask (that)
to command (that) to demand (that)
to desire (that) to insist (that)
to propose (that) to recommend (that)
to request (that) to suggest (that)
to urge (that)
2. Expressions Followed by the Subjunctive:
It is best (that) It is crucial (that)
It is desirable (that) It is essential (that)
It is imperative (that) It is important (that)
It is recommended (that) It is urgent (that)
It is vital (that) It is a good idea (that)
It is a bad idea (that)
* Negative, Continuous and Passive Forms of Subjunctive
The Subjunctive can be used in negative, continuous and passive forms.
a. Active Examples:
- The boss insisted that Sam be at the meeting.
- I suggest that you not take the job without renegotiating the salary.
b. Passive Examples:
- Jake recommended that Susan be hired immediately.
- Christine demanded that I not be allowed to take part in the negotiations.
c. Progressive:
- He asked that I be sitting still without touching his things on the table.
- The boss requested his secretary not be waiting idly for the job to be assigned.
3. Fixed Expressions using the Subjunctive:
…, as it were (in a way, so to speak)
Be that is it may... (Whether that is true or not…)
Come what may… (Whatever happens…)
Far be it from me to disagree/criticise (To appear less hostile when disagreeing)
God bless you.
God save the Queen!
Heaven help us! (An exclamation of despair)
(An exclamation that you hope something won’t
Heaven forbid!
happen)
If need be... (If it is necessary)
Long live the bride and groom!
…, so be it. (We can’t do anything to change it)
(A suggestion or possibility is unpleasant or
Perish the thought!
ridiculous)
 Suffice it to say… (It is obvious/I will give a short explanation)
PRACTICE
I. Supply the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.
1. Mr. Black recommended that you ............................................. (join) the committee.
2. It is important that you ............................................. (try) to study often.
6. Dr. Jackson asked that Anthony .............................................(submit) his research paper before
the end of the term.
7. Sarah requested Frank ............................................. (come) to the party.
8. It is important she ............................................. (attend) the meeting.
9. Judy asked that we ............................................. (attend) her graduation ceremony next week.
10. The teacher insists that her students ............................................. (come) on time.
11. It's important that Janet ......................................... (remember) to take her medicine twice a day.
12. John insists that Sarah (invite) ………………… to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.
13. I think it's an interesting fact that she (come) ………………….. from Estonia.
14. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) ……………. on sun block immediately before
you get a sun burn.
15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (not/ swim) …………… after eating a large meal.
16. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) …………….. to store's information desk so his
parents could be paged.
II. Circle the best option:
1. It's important that she .......................... to take her medicine twice a day.
A. remember B. remembering C. to remember
2. I suggest that Frank.......................... the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle. He
doesn't want the wheels to fall off while he is riding down a hill.
A. reading B. to read C. read
3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater ............. immediately. Her apartment was freezing.
A. repaired B. be repaired C. repair
4. It's vital that the United States .......................... on improving its public education system. What
we do now will affect our country for generations to come.
A. focuses B. focus C. focusing
5. The monk insisted that the tourists ................... the temple until they had removed their shoes.
A. not entering B. not to enter C. not enter
6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately .................. for
what she just said.
A. apologize B. apologizing C. to apologize
7. Judy asked that we .......................... her graduation ceremony next week.
A. attended B. to attend C. attend
8. Was it really necessary that I .......................... there watching you the entire time you were
rehearsing for the play? It was really boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.
A. sits B. am sitting C. be sitting
9. It is important to remember that Janine .......................... very differently from you. She may not
agree to the changes you have made in the organization of the company.
A. think B. to think C. thinks
10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all .......................... together so that
nobody gets lost along the way.
A. is driving B. drive C. to drive
11. She told me that the government ........................ the airline industry. I don't know if that is
true.
A. regulates B. regulate C. regulating
12. I think it's an interesting fact that she ........................ from Estonia.
A. come B. to come C. comes
13. The executive board of the rugby team required that each member .... twenty-five dollar dues.
A. pay B. paying C. paid
14. It is necessary that a life guard ................... the summing pool while the children are taking
their swimming lessons.
A. to monitor B. monitors C. monitor
15. It is imperative that the world ................... towards a solution to global warming before the
weather patterns of the world are disrupted irreparably.
A. works B. work C. to work
16. I demand that he ………………. immediately.
a. apologize b. shall apologize c. will apologize
17. I suggested that she ………………….her lawyer before signing the contract.
a. consult b. shall consult c. will consult
18. It is necessary that everything …………………. ready by two o'clock tomorrow.
a. be b. was c. will be
19. They recommend that she ………………….. to a ski resort in Spain.
a. will go b. would have gone c. should go
20. It is advisable that you ……………………. your application as soon as possible.
a. submit b. will submit c. should have submitted
22. He decided to go inside the haunted house, ……………….. what may.
a. come b. comes c. should come
23. Far ……… it from me to criticize your plan, but I think you should change a few things in it.
a. be b. is c. was
24. The doctor insisted that she ………………… at the hospital.
a. stay b. stays c. will stay
25. She suggested that we ……………. in the lobby of the hotel at 9:00 a.m.
a. shall meet b. will meet c. should meet
III. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning:
1. It's necessary that he meet as many local people as possible.
-> It's necessary..................................................… as many local people as possible.
2. It's important that you have your car checked by a mechanic.
-> It's important........................................………. by a mechanic.
3. It is essential that we have a first-aid kit in the car.
-> It's essential ……................................................... a first-aid kit in the car.
4. His idea is that we should travel in two different cars.
-> His idea is …….................................................... in two different cars.
5. It is usual that students leave everything for the day before the exam.
-> It is usual ….......................................... everything for the day before the exam.
6. It is desirable that you make your application as early as possible.
-> It is desirable …..................................………… your application as early as possible.
7. It is vital that the documents arrive by tomorrow.
-> It is vital .........................................................…………….. by tomorrow.
8. It is unusual that people should call after ten.
-> It is unusual ……....................................................…………. after ten.
IV. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning:
1. It is desirable for players to understand the rules before starting the game.
 -> It is desirable ….......................................….. the rules before starting the game.
2. It' important for you to be on time for the exam.
-> It's important ……………........................................ on time for the exam.
3. It's vital for young people to have a lot of friends.
-> It's vital …………….......................................................… a lot of friends.
4. It is imperative for me to speak to you as soon as possible.
-> It is imperative ………….............................................… to you as soon as possible.
5. It is vital for the team to get a new trainer if they want to win.
-> It is vital ................................................…………… a new trainer if they want to win.
6. It is really important for him to pass all his exams.
-> It is really important ……………................................................... all his exams.
V. Rewrite the following sentences using the provided openings.
1. “Drink a lot of water and have three light meals a day, guy.” the doctor suggested.
-> The doctor suggested (that) the .................................................................
2. “Submit the paper on Monday at the latest, Mark” the teacher insisted.
-> The teacher .....................................................................................................
3. “We should sell the tickets three pounds each” Marie proposed.
-> Marie proposed ..............................................................................................
4. “We must take the necessary steps to reduce global warming now.” The scientist
recommended.
-> The scientist recommended ...........................................................................
5. It’ll be no use to force him learn.
-> I suggest that he ..............................................................................................
6. He has decided to sell the house.
-> He has decided that ........................................................................................
7. “You are watching T.V for 5 hours and it’s time you stop”. My father said
-> My father asked that I not ................................................................................
8. The machine works very well and he doesn’t have to fix it.
-> It’s unnecessary that ......................................................................................
9. “I don’t know the answer, you should ask Mark, Mary”.
-> I suggested that ...................................................................................................
10. “Why don’t you spend some time at the Trade Fairs to find out what is the trend for teen
fashions this summer, Ben?”
-> I recommended ...........................................................................................................
11. The government said that each of us had to do something right now to save the environment.
-> The government urged that something .................................................................
12. “You should give up smoking, Jane”
-> It’s advisable that .....................................................................................................
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