Job Discussion Forums

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi


I need a little help with this:



"I recommend that he study more."


'should study' is implied, but should is not necessary.

i.e., we don't need to write "he studies more"


What do we call this kind of grammatical structure?


Anybody with a quick link to a page of examples wins a place in my heart.



Thanks a lot!

[naturegirl321]

I just tell them the construction for giving advice is
recommend + that + object + base formn of the verb

[johnslat]

Dear Kent,
It's the subjunctive


Use of the Subjunctive

We use subjunctives mainly when talking about events that are not certain to happen. For example, we use the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody:

wants to happen
hopes will happen
imagines happening
Look at these examples:

The President requests that you be present at the meeting.
It is vital that you be present at the meeting.
If you were at the meeting, the President would be happy.
The subjunctive is typically used after two structures:

the verbs: ask, command, demand, insist, propose, recommend, request, suggest + that
the expressions: it is desirable, essential, important, necessary, vital + that
Here are some examples with the subjunctive:

The manager insists that the car park be locked at night.
The board of directors recommended that he join the company.
It is essential that we vote as soon as possible.
It was necessary that every student submit his essay by the weekend.
Notice that in these structures the subjunctive is always the same. It does not matter whether the sentence is past or present. Look at these examples:

Present: The President requests that they stop the occupation.
Past: The President requested that they stop the occupation.
Present: It is essential that she be present.
Past: It was essential that she be present.


http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-subjunctive.htm

Here's a quiz:


http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-subjunctive_quiz.htm


Here's another reference:


http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000031.htm



Regards,
John

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Thank you, naturegirl and Johnslat.





And John, you're hired.

[Stephen Jones]

Agree with John Slat; the present subjunctive is the base form of the verb.

Other well-known examples:
Long live the Queen
God save/damn America

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

I was a little confused by the given example, with 'recommend' in the present tense.

It just didn't feel like a subjunctive sentence to me, but it makes sense now,

with all of the excellent examples and links you've provided.


Never too old or too proud to learn something.


Thanks again for your speedy help.

[johnslat]

Dear Kent,
Thanks for the job offer, but "a place in (your) heart" is quite sufficient.
Glad to be of help.
Regards,
John

[Kaspar Hauser]

[fluffyhamster]

[johnslat]

Dear Kaspar Hauser


Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive. Here are some examples:

Long live the King!
God bless America!
Heaven forbid!
Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
Come what may, I will never forget you.
We are all citizens of the world, as it were.


http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-subjunctive.htm

Regards,
John

[naturegirl321]

Suggest is great.

I suggest we go to the cinema.
I suggest we went to the cinema.
I suggest going to the cinema.

[johnslat]

Dear naturegirl,

I'm trying to think of a context where this would be used:


"I suggest we went to the cinema."


but all I can think of is that maybe both (or more - of the we), can't recall where they went, so one of them is offering that as a possibility.

Regards,
John

[naturegirl321]

I don't get it either. That's English for you.

[11:59]

[naturegirl321]

YOu're right, should be

I suggest we go to the cinema.
I suggest you should study more. British English
I suggest going to the cinema.

Thanks for pointing out the mistakes. That's what's great about teaching, you're always learning.