Identify the sentence that correctly uses the subjunctive mood in a noun clause following a verb of recommendation.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The committee recommended that each candidate submit credentials in advance.
- Step 1: Verbs of demand, recommendation, or urgency (recommend, suggest, insist) trigger the mandative subjunctive in a 'that'-clause.
- Step 2: The verb in the that-clause must appear in base infinitive form regardless of the subject: 'submit', not 'submits' or 'submitted'.
Answer
The committee recommended that each candidate submit credentials in advance.
Why not the others: 'submits' uses indicative third-person singular; 'submitted' uses past tense; the fourth omits 'that' and alters clause structure.
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