The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

Reporting verb + THAT-clause with the present subjunctive

VERB + THAT-CLAUSE WITH PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

The present subjunctive can be used in a that-clause instead of should + infinitive in formal and literary styles.

Examples of reporting verbs used with a that-clause with the present subjunctive:

advise, agree, demand, insist, prefer, propose, recommend, request, suggest, urge

Carlos: I think you should visit a specialist.

Carlos

advised

that I visit a specialist.

Susan: Yes, you are right, Harry. You'd better accept that offer.

Susan

agreed

that Harry accept the offer.

Customer: I want you to give me a full refund.

The customer

demanded

that the company give him a full refund.

Mike: You really must try my new muffin recipe.

Mike

insisted

that I try his new muffin recipe.

Howard: I'd rather you came to my party, and not to Ryan's.

Howard

preferred

that I go to his party.

Jill: How about going to the sauna tonight?

Jill

proposed / recommended / suggested

that we go to the sauna.

Employees: Could we have the staff meeting on Tuesday instead?

The employees

requested

that the staff meeting be on Tuesday.

Green activists: The nuclear plant must immediately be shut down.

Green activists

urged

that the nuclear plant be shut down.

Related topics:

Present subjunctive