The Subjunctive

A) After each sentence, select the verb or verb string that best completes that sentence. Watch out: the subjunctive form will not be the best choice in all sentences:

1. It is very important that all employees ________ in their proper uniforms before 6:30 a.m.
A. are dressed
B. will be dressed
C. be dressed

2. I wish my brother _______ here.
A. were
B. was

3. The coach insisted that Fabio _______ the center position, even though he's much too short for that position.
A. plays
B. play

4. Evelyn Smith recommended that the meeting _______.
A. was adjourned
B. be adjourned

5. My mother would know what to do. Oh, would that she _______ here with us now!
A. were
B. was

6. If only Hughes ______ a little more responsible in his choice of courses!
A. was
B. were

7. If Mrs. Lincoln ________ ill that night, the Lincolns would not have gone to Ford Theater.
A. were
B. had been

8. Her employees treated Mrs. Greenblatt as though she _______ a queen.
A. was
B. were

9. If his parents ________ more careful in his upbringing, Holden Caulfield would have been quite different.
A. had been
B. were

10. I wish I ______ better today.
A. feel
B. felt

B) Fill in the blanks by using the subjunctive or any other verb form:

1. It's important that she (remember) to take her medicine twice a day.

2. I suggest that Frank (read) the directions carefully before assembling the bicycle. He doesn't want the wheels to fall off while he is riding down a hill.

3. Mrs. Finkelstein demanded that the heater (repair) immediately. Her apartment was freezing.

4. It's vital that the United States (focus) on improving its public education system. What we do now will affect our country for generations to come.

5. The monk insisted that the tourists (enter) the temple until they had removed their shoes.

6. I am not going to sit here and let her insult me. I demand that she immediately (apologize) for what she just said.

7. Judy asked that we (attend) her graduation ceremony next week.

8. Was it really necessary that I (sit) there watching you the entire time you were rehearsing for the play? It was really boring watching you repeat the scenes over and over again.

9. It is important to remember that Janine (think) very differently from you. She may not agree to the changes you have made in the organization of the company.

10. It's a little difficult to find the restaurant. I propose that we all (drive) together so that nobody gets lost along the way.

11. The woman insisted that the lost child (take) to store's information desk so his parents could be paged.

12. The nutritionist recommended that Sally (reduce) her daily fat intake.

13. The environmental leader felt it was extremely important that the people of the city (allow) to voice their concerns over the new hotel being built on the bay.

14. She says that the government (regulate) the airline industry. I don't know if that is true.

15. The sign at the pool recommended that you (swim) after eating a large meal.

16. It is necessary that a life guard (monitor) the swimming pool while the children are taking their swimming lessons.

17. The sun is scorching today. I suggest you (put) on sunblock immediately before you get a sunburn.

18. John insists that Sarah (invite) to the wedding; otherwise he will not attend.

19. I think it's an interesting fact that she (come) from Estonia.

20. It is imperative that the world (work) towards a solution to global warming before the weather patterns of the world are disrupted irreparably.

C) 1) The UN requested that the government _______ its policy.

a) amends
b) amend
c) will amend

2) If only he _______ more skillful, he would make a good football player.

a) was
b) is
c) were

3) If the tickets ________ cheaper, we would have gone to the concert.

a) had been
b) were
c) are

4)The chairman suggested that the meeting _______ moved to Wednesday.

a) was
b) is
c) be

5)I wish it _______ warmer.

a) was
b) is
c) were

6)The boss insisted that the salesforce _______ its results.

a) improve
b) improved
c) improves

7)If Peter _______ better behaved, he would not be in so much trouble at school.

a) was
b) were
c) is

8) The commission recommended that the minister _______.

a) will resign
b) resigns
c) resign

9) If the new striker _______ a better goal-scorer, we might win more matches.

a) is
b) was
c) were

10) The emperor demanded that the thief ________ brought before him.

a) were
b) was
c) be

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Key: A) 1.c 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.b 6.a 7.a 8.b 9.a 10.a
B) 1.remember 2.read 3.be repaired 4.focus 5.enter 6.apologize 7.attend 8.sit 9.thinks 10.drive 11.take 12.reduce 13.allow 14.regulates 15.swim 16.monitor 17.put 18.be invited 19.comes 20.work
C) 1.b 2.c 3.a 4.c 5.c 6.a 7.b 8.c 9.c 10.c