Select the correct verb form for the contractual clause:

The bilateral trade treaty stipulates that each signatory nation ________ its tariff schedules on agricultural commodities annually.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. revise

Answer: revise. Why not the others: 'revises' uses the indicative third-person singular inflection, which is avoided in formal mandative constructions; 'revised' uses the past indicative; 'would revise' introduces an unneeded modal of hypothetical condition.
  1. Step 1: Identify the matrix verb 'stipulates', which expresses a legal mandate governing a mandative that-clause.
  2. Step 2: In formal legal and academic syntax, mandative clauses take the base subjunctive form 'revise' regardless of the third-person singular subject 'each signatory nation'.

Practise more Advanced Syntax, Inversions, Cleft Sentences, and Subjunctive Structures.

Free questions with an explanation for every one, and full timed MUET Malaysia (Malaysian University English Test) mock tests.