Booher's Rules of Business Grammar - Dianna Booher 2009

Pushy people demanding their way
Verbosity about verbs: The big blunders

THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD CONTINUED

Are you still with me? Good. Subjunctive-mood verbs also express strong wishes, demands, concessions, and resolutions. These verbs follow in the minor clause after such words as command, demand, insist, order, recommend, require, wish, and suggest.

Incorrect:

I wish she was able to transfer to headquarters.

Correct:

I wish she were able to transfer to headquarters.

Incorrect:

Mortimer tiptoed through the trade show as though networking was a nasty business.

Correct:

Mortimer tiptoed through the trade show as though networking were a nasty business. (Networking brings in viable leads.)

Other Examples:

The manager demanded that he leave the building.

Ziggy recommended that Daffy give the presentation.

Orilla moved that the meeting adjourn.

Snuffy insists that the manager write the apology.

The present-tense subjunctive is formed by dropping the —s from the third-person singular. (Example: “Gertrude manages” becomes “Gertrude manage.”)

The past-tense subjunctive is indistinguishable from the past-tense indicative used to state facts or ask questions. No problem there.

The one big irregularity to all the above: the verb to be.

Subjunctive-mood present tense of to be: be (just the one odd word)

Subjunctive-mood past tense of to be: were

Normally, you say, “Fritz was” or “They were.” But when you are ranting, raving, or resolving, you switch to be.

Examples:

I insist that Fritz be promoted.

Dilbert required that Ebeneezer be present for the meeting.

Eldora has demanded that her boss be fired for incompetence.

The report suggested that the team be exiled in cyberspace.

Managers suggest that new hires be trained by noon on the first day.

We are resolved that Mortimer be comfortable with the new regulations.

I urged that the price be discounted at least 20 percent.

Executives demand that engineers be good presenters.

In essence, these be constructions sound similar to command forms (imperative mood) of the verb: “Be careful.” “Be quiet.” “Be thorough.” “Be specific.” “Be brief.” “Be seated.” If this switching to the word be sounds odd to you, consider the word should inserted in front of it: “Executives demand that engineers (should) be good presenters.”

Dilbert demanded that Fritz write the reports. (should write)

Ebeneezer urged that the team negotiate the cruise fares. (should negotiate)

Eldora insisted that Mortimer fire his brother-in-law. (should fire)

We are resolved that the teams collect all funds by June 30. (should collect)

Incorrect:

The client requirement is that all consultants are financially literate.

Correct:

The client requirement is that all consultants be financially literate.

Incorrect:

He demands that the report is mailed rather than sent electronically.

Correct:

He demands that the report be mailed rather than sent electronically.

Note: The subjunctive mood is found only in the minor (subordinate) clause, never in the main clause, of the sentence.

Memory tip

Subjunctive sounds like subjective. Let the subjunctive mood remind you of subjective emotions: demands, urges, and wishes. Just as emotions frequently reverse people’s actions, the subjunctive mood reverses the normal verb.