AEM Academy

Subjunctive Mood: Noun Clauses for Orders and Suggestions

Verbs in noun clauses with an order or suggestion require subjunctive mood, i.e. they are all infinitive. The main verb in the independent clause is conjugated normally.

  • The doctor suggested that she exercise regularly.
  • The doctor suggests that she exercise regularly.
  • The doctor will suggest that she exercise regularly.

 

Notice: it does NOT say "...that she exercises regularly."

It doesn't matter what the tense is in the independent clause. It could be past, present, or future: in all of these cases, the order/suggestion in the noun clause will look EXACTLY the same, a bare infinitive.

 

Negatives

Forming the negative in subjunctive mood: not + bare infinitive

Present

  • I suggest that you wear that to the meeting.
  • I suggest that you not wear that to the meeting.

Past

  • His wife suggested that he wear that to the meeting.
  • His wife suggested that he not wear that the meeting.

Future

  • I'll suggest that he wear that to the meeting.
  • I'll suggest that he not wear that the meeting.


Verbs that use this structure:

 Ask

  • He asked that I see him tomorrow.
  • I ask that you talk quietly in the library.
  • He asked that she come tomorrow instead of today.

Demand

  • My neighbour demanded that I turn down the volume.
  • The client demands that the company fix the problem immediately.

Insist

  • My boss insists that we all show up 10 minutes early for each shift.
  • The doctor will probably insist that he avoid any strenuous exercise.

Order 

  • The coach ordered that he show up to practice on time.

Recommend

  • I recommend that she exercise regularly.

Suggest

  • I suggest that you not get this colour.
  • I suggest that he avoid/not eat spicy food.

Require 

  • We require that all guests sign in at the door.

Request

  • I have requested that he send payment immediately.


Phrases that use this structure:

It is essential that...

  • It’s essential that we provide the highest level of customer service.

It is advised that...                                  

  • It is advised that you not go there.

It's important that…                                                 

  • It's important that he be ready on time.

I would ask that…                                                      

  • I would ask that nothing happen/be done while I'm away.

It is critical that…

  • It's critical that he follow every step of the instructions precisely.

It is crucial that…

  • It's crucial that he see me first thing tomorrow morning.

It is necessary that...

  • It is necessary that he get a check-up on a monthly basis.


Some verbs can take the Subject + Verb + Object OR Subjunctive Mood structure:

Ask

  • I asked him to help me.
  • I asked that he help me.

Command

  • I commanded him to help me.
  • I commanded that he help me.

Order

  • I ordered him to help me.
  • I ordered that he help me.

Require

  • I required him to help me.
  • I required that he help me.

Urge

  • I urged him to help me.
  • I urged that he help me.

Beg

  • I begged him to help me.
  • I begged that he help me.


ONLY the Subjunctive Mood structure is correct with these verbs:

Insist

  • I insisted him to help me.
  • I insisted that he help me.

Propose

  • I proposed him to help me.
  • I proposed that he help me.

Recommend

  • I recommended him to help me.
  • I recommended that he help me.

Request

  • I requested him to help me.
  • I requested that he help me.


There are several ways to use "recommend":

I recommend the sweet and sour chicken.

  • noun phrase

I recommend going to Disney World.

  • noun (gerund) phrase

The doctor recommended that she exercise regularly.

  • noun clause in subjunctive mood
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