Subjunctive Mood

Respuesta correcta: A) Marta suggested that we start the rehearsal early.

• A) Marta suggested that we start the rehearsal early.Correct! After 'suggested that' the clause is subjunctive, so the bare base form 'start' is required, not 'will start'.
• B) Marta suggested that we will start the rehearsal early.The modal 'will' keeps the clause indicative. A that-clause of suggestion needs the bare base form of the verb.
• C) Marta suggested that we started the rehearsal early.A past indicative form appears here. The subjunctive carries no tense, so the base form 'start' must be kept.
• D) Marta suggested us to start the rehearsal early.The pattern 'suggest someone to do' does not exist; 'suggest' takes a that-clause in the subjunctive or a gerund.

Respuesta correcta: C) not smoke

• A) stopsA present simple form belongs to the indicative. The verb after 'insisted that' must appear as a bare base form.
• B) will stopThe modal 'will' makes the clause indicative, while the subjunctive drops tense markers and negates the base form.
• C) not smokeCorrect! A negative subjunctive places 'not' directly before the base form, so 'insisted that she not smoke' is right.
• D) doesn't smokeA contracted auxiliary marks tense and agreement, which the subjunctive lacks; negate the base form with 'not' instead.

Respuesta correcta: B) Carlos proposed that we visit Monteverde.

• A) Carlos proposed that we will visit Monteverde.Keeping a modal or replacing 'should' with 'will' leaves the clause indicative; the subjunctive needs the bare form.
• B) Carlos proposed that we visit Monteverde.Correct! 'Should' is redundant inside a that-clause after 'proposed', so the modal is dropped and 'visit' stands alone.
• C) Carlos proposed that we visited Monteverde.The past form 'visited' is indicative; a clause of proposal is not tied to a tense, so it takes the base form.
• D) Carlos proposed us that we visit Monteverde.A that-clause cannot follow an indirect object with 'us'; 'proposed' takes either a bare that-clause or a gerund.

Respuesta correcta: D) Two problems: 'suggest' rejects 'to her', and 'should' must go.

• A) Nothing; the sentence is fully correct as written.The sentence has two real problems, so accepting it as written would hide both a complement error and a modal error.
• B) 'Suggested' is wrong here; the verb should be 'propose'.'Suggest' is the natural verb for a proposal, and 'propose' would still need the same subjunctive that-clause structure.
• C) 'Cancel' is wrong, since the subjunctive needs a past form.The subjunctive does not move into a past tense; it keeps the base form 'cancel' whatever the tense of the main verb.
• D) Two problems: 'suggest' rejects 'to her', and 'should' must go.Correct! 'Suggest' takes no indirect object, and the modal 'should' is redundant, so the clause must read 'that we cancel'.

Respuesta correcta: A) It is high time that we left for Turrialba.

• A) It is high time that we left for Turrialba.Correct! 'It is high time that' takes a past form as the subjunctive, and here 'left' points to the next unfulfilled moment.
• B) It is high time that we will leave for Turrialba.A future modal states a prediction, while the fixed expression 'it is high time that' demands the past subjunctive.
• C) It is high time that we are leaving for Turrialba.The present progressive describes an action in progress; the subjunctive after 'high time' always uses the simple past.
• D) It is high time that we would leave for Turrialba.'Would' belongs to conditional and polite structures; the fixed pattern is a plain past form after 'high time that'.

Respuesta correcta: B) had

• A) haveThe bare base form points to a present reality, while a regret about the past needs the past subjunctive 'had'.
• B) hadCorrect! An unreal wish about the past takes the subjunctive 'had': 'I wish I had had more time to prepare it'.
• C) will have'Will have' states a future fact, but this wish is counterfactual, so the verb of the second clause goes to the past.
• D) am havingA present progressive is an indicative form; the subjunctive strips tense and keeps the single past form 'had'.

Respuesta correcta: D) had gone

• A) goThe base form fits a present or future preference, but the match happened last weekend, so the past is needed.
• B) are goingThe present progressive states a current situation; 'would rather' with a past reference requires the past subjunctive.
• C) will go'Will go' points forward to a new choice, while the speaker is already looking back at last weekend.
• D) had goneCorrect! 'Would rather' plus a that-clause uses the past subjunctive for a past or unreal preference: 'had gone'.

Respuesta correcta: A) Even if it were raining, the match would go on.

• A) Even if it were raining, the match would go on.Correct! Formal concessions after 'even if' use the subjunctive 'were' because the situation is imagined, not reported.
• B) Even if it is raining, the match will go on.A present simple with 'even if' states a real possibility in the present, and 'will' turns the sentence into a prediction.
• C) Even if it rained, the match went on.The past indicative reports what actually happened, while a subjunctive condition stays unreal however it is phrased.
• D) Even if it has rained, the match would go on.The present perfect points to a real earlier rain; the subjunctive 'were raining' keeps the condition purely hypothetical.

Respuesta correcta: C) Diego suggested going to the beach.

• A) Diego suggested that going to the beach would be fun.A gerund cannot stand inside a that-clause; the subjunctive there takes a bare base form, for example 'that we go'.
• B) Diego suggested to go to the beach.The bare infinitive is not an accepted complement of 'suggest'; this verb takes a gerund or a that-clause in the subjunctive.
• C) Diego suggested going to the beach.Correct! 'Suggest' accepts a gerund, 'suggested going', or a that-clause in the subjunctive, but never 'suggested to go'.
• D) Diego suggested that we to go to the beach.An infinitive cannot follow 'that'; a subjunctive that-clause needs a finite base form, so the right version is 'that we go'.

Respuesta correcta: B) felt

• A) feelsThe present simple describes a real, repeated reaction, while 'as if' here looks back at a past moment.
• B) feltCorrect! 'As if' with a past reference takes the past form 'felt' as a subjunctive, presenting the calm as pretended.
• C) has feltThe present perfect links the reaction to now, but the whole sequence described here is already past.
• D) would feelA conditional 'would feel' imagines a future reaction, and 'acted as if' after a past event points backwards.

Respuesta correcta: C) I doubt that the new policy is fair to everyone.

• A) I believe that the policy changes next year.'Believe' states an opinion the speaker accepts, so it takes the indicative rather than the subjunctive.
• B) She supposes that every teacher agrees with the change.'Suppose' used positively means 'imagine' and keeps the indicative; its negative form would trigger the subjunctive.
• C) I doubt that the new policy is fair to everyone.Correct! 'Doubt that he is' is a classic subjunctive pattern, because the speaker keeps the claim separate from his own belief.
• D) He thinks that the policy will surprise the students.'Thinks' reports an opinion he shares, so 'will surprise' is expected; only negated verbs of thinking use the subjunctive.

Respuesta correcta: A) be

• A) beCorrect! The passive of the subjunctive keeps 'be' unchanged, so the sentence reads 'that the equipment be checked'.
• B) isA present simple 'is' makes the clause indicative; after 'it is essential that' the passive must be 'be checked'.
• C) will beThe future 'will be' predicts an event, while the subjunctive here marks necessity, not a forecast.
• D) are'Are' is a plural agreement form that fits no subject here; the subjunctive drops agreement and keeps the bare 'be'.

Respuesta correcta: D) I recommend that you see a doctor about those headaches.

• A) I recommend you see a doctor about those headaches.'Recommend' does not take an object plus a bare infinitive; it takes a that-clause or a gerund as its complement.
• B) I recommend that you will see a doctor about those headaches.The modal 'will' keeps the clause indicative, while a recommendation needs the bare base form after 'that'.
• C) I recommend that you should see a doctor about those headaches.'Should' is redundant inside a that-clause of recommendation; the subjunctive already carries the obligatory mood.
• D) I recommend that you see a doctor about those headaches.Correct! 'Recommend that' plus the bare base form is the standard subjunctive pattern and it keeps the force of the advice.

Respuesta correcta: B) had consulted

• A) consultedA bare past form reads as a real past habit, while an unreal third condition needs 'had' plus the participle.
• B) had consultedCorrect! An unreal past condition uses 'had' plus the past participle, matched by the unreal result 'would have been'.
• C) has consultedThe present perfect points to a consultation that really happened, but this sentence describes one that never did.
• D) will consultA future 'will consult' cannot produce a past result; 'would have been ready' already fixes the condition in the unreal past.

Respuesta correcta: C) The board recommended that every coach attend the training in Nicoya.

• A) The board recommended every coach that attend the training in Nicoya.'Recommended' does not take an indirect object before a that-clause; the clause itself carries the subject 'every coach'.
• B) The board recommended that every coach to attend the training in Nicoya.An infinitive cannot follow 'that'; the subjunctive that-clause needs a finite base form, so 'to attend' is out.
• C) The board recommended that every coach attend the training in Nicoya.Correct! A recommendation places the subject inside the that-clause and uses the bare base form 'attend' for the subjunctive.
• D) The board recommended that attend every coach the training in Nicoya.English clauses put the verb before the subject, so this order is not grammatical even without the subjunctive issue.

Respuesta correcta: D) were

• A) was'Was' belongs to the indicative; formal English uses 'were' in subjunctive conditions, for every person.
• B) am'Am' is a present simple form and fits only real conditions, but this advice imagines a situation.
• C) be'Be' is the base form and would need a modal such as 'might'; after 'if' the subjunctive takes the past form.
• D) wereCorrect! 'Were' replaces 'was' in every subjunctive 'if' clause, which is why we say 'If I were you' in advice.

Respuesta correcta: B) She used posters in order that the students might remember the dates.

• A) She used posters in order that the students will remember the dates.'Will' states a definite future result, while the subjunctive 'might' expresses an aim rather than a prediction.
• B) She used posters in order that the students might remember the dates.Correct! A purpose clause after 'in order that' commonly takes the subjunctive modal 'might', which leaves the outcome open.
• C) She used posters in order that the students remember the dates.A bare present form presents the outcome as already real, but formal purpose clauses prefer 'might' here.
• D) She used posters so that the students would remembering the dates.'Would remembering' mixes a modal with a gerund; the subjunctive needs a plain base form after 'would' or 'might'.

Respuesta correcta: C) cuts

• A) will cut'Will cut' is a future indicative; 'Suppose that' introduces a hypothesis the speaker imagines, so the base form is needed.
• B) cut'Cut' is the past form, but the subjunctive here refers to an imagined present situation, not to a past event.
• C) cutsCorrect! After 'Suppose that' the subjunctive keeps the base form and its third person 's', so 'cuts' is the right choice.
• D) is cutting'Is cutting' states a real action in progress, while the subjunctive marks a condition being invented for the argument.

Respuesta correcta: A) It is important that every student arrives on time.

• A) It is important that every student arrives on time.Here the clause is indicative, because 'arrives' agrees with its subject and states a real habit; it needs 'arrive'.
• B) The teacher insisted that we hand in the lab report.Correct use of the subjunctive: 'insist' takes 'that' plus the bare base form 'hand in', with no tense marking.
• C) She suggested that we visit the coffee farm in Turrialba.Correct use of the subjunctive: 'suggest' keeps the base form 'visit', so nothing has to be corrected in this sentence.
• D) He demanded that she be present at the hearing.Correct use of the subjunctive: after 'demanded' the passive 'be present' keeps 'be' with no change in form.

Respuesta correcta: D) The board decided that the library be built before the rainy season.

• A) The board decided that the library is built before the rainy season.A present simple 'is built' is the indicative, while a board decision is a directive that needs the subjunctive passive.
• B) The board decided that the library will be built before the rainy season.'Will be built' states a prediction rather than an official order, but a resolution expresses obligation.
• C) The board decided that the library was built before the rainy season.The past passive 'was built' reports a finished event, and the board is deciding what still has to happen.
• D) The board decided that the library be built before the rainy season.Correct! A formal decision uses the subjunctive, and in the passive the auxiliary 'be' never changes form.