Question

Difficulty: Very hardShifts in Construction

Read the passage below. What form of the verb 'disclose' should be written in the blank to maintain consistency in grammatical construction and avoid an incorrect shift in mood?

Answer:During the high-profile trial, the legal teams faced intense scrutiny from both the media and the public. In a tense courtroom session yesterday, the defense attorney insisted that the suspect be released on bail and that the prosecution 【disclose】 all relevant evidence immediately. Ultimately, the judge denied the request, citing the severity of the charges.

Answer

disclose
The correct answer is the base verb form 'disclose'. The sentence features parallel subordinate clauses introduced by 'insisted that'. The first clause, 'that the suspect be released on bail,' uses the subjunctive mood. To prevent an illogical shift in construction and mood, the second clause must also use the subjunctive mood, which requires the base form of the verb ('disclose').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main verb and its grammatical influence.
The main verb governing the subordinate clauses is 'insisted'.
Verbs expressing demand, insistence, or recommendation govern the subjunctive mood in their dependent clauses.
2
Examine the mood of the first dependent clause.
The first clause is 'that the suspect be released', which is in the subjunctive mood.
This establishes the subjunctive construction (using the base form 'be') for parallel elements in the sentence.
3
Determine the correct verb form for the second dependent clause.
The second clause must also use the subjunctive mood to maintain consistency in grammatical construction and avoid a shift in mood.
To maintain parallel subjunctive construction, the base form of the verb 'disclose' is required.

Key Concept

Avoiding shifts in grammatical construction and maintaining subjunctive mood consistency
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