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Question

Difficulty: MediumVerbs, Tenses, and Aspect

Consider the sentence below:
"The governing council recommended that the bursar ________ from office while the financial audit is ongoing."

Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

  1. be suspendedAnswer
  2. B
    was suspended
  3. C
    is suspended
  4. D
    has been suspended

Answer

The correct form to complete the sentence is 'be suspended'.
The verb 'recommended' in the main clause mandates the use of the mandative subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause. In English grammar, the subjunctive after verbs of suggestion, demand, or recommendation requires the base form of the verb (in passive voice, 'be' + past participle), making 'be suspended' the only grammatically appropriate choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the governing verb in the main clause
The main verb is 'recommended', which is a verb of mandate/suggestion.
Verbs like 'recommend', 'demand', 'insist', and 'propose' introduce a subordinate clause requiring the mandative subjunctive.
2
Determine the required mood and verb structure for the subordinate clause
The subordinate clause must use the base form of the verb (uninflected bare infinitive) regardless of the subject singular/plural status or the main verb's tense.
Mandative subjunctive structures demand the base form of the auxiliary ('be' + past participle for passive voice).
3
Select the verb option matching the passive base-form subjunctive structure
'be suspended' matches the pattern [base form 'be' + past participle 'suspended'].
Forms like 'was suspended', 'is suspended', or 'has been suspended' introduce indicative inflections that violate subjunctive grammar.

Key Concept

Mandative Subjunctive Mood with Verbs of Recommendation
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Verbs, Tenses, and Aspect

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