C1 Advanced Subjunctive, concession and advanced passive
The subjunctive
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can use the subjunctive — the bare verb after suggest, insist, demand and in It is essential that…
When to use it
- Formal suggestions and demands: I suggest that he take the exam again.
- Rules and requirements: It is essential that every student be on time.
- Very common in official, academic and American English.
Form
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| after verbs | suggest / insist / demand / recommend / propose / request + that + S + base verb | I insist that she be present. |
| after adjectives | It is essential / vital / necessary / important + that + S + base verb | It is vital that he be informed. |
| negative | that + S + not + base verb | I suggest that he not go alone. |
| passive | that + S + be + V3 | …that the rule be changed. |
Step by step
- Recognise a verb or adjective from the subjunctive group.
- After that, write the subject and then the bare verb — no -s, no tense.
- With to be, always write be, whatever the subject.
- Negative: put not directly before the verb, never don't.
American and British usage
| Variety | Sentence | Note |
|---|---|---|
| American, formal | I suggest that he go home. | pure subjunctive |
| British, common | I suggest that he should go home. | adding should |
| Sai | I suggest that he goes home. | changing the verb for the person is a mistake |
Examples
The teacher suggested that he take the exam again.
It is essential that everyone be on time.
They demanded that he leave immediately.
The doctor insisted that she stay in bed.
I recommend that you start earlier.
I suggest that he not travel alone.
Common mistakes
I suggest that he goes home. → I suggest that he go home.
The subjunctive does not inflect. Learners are trained to add -s in the third person, which makes this slip common.
It is essential that he is informed. → It is essential that he be informed.
With to be, the subjunctive is always be, never is or are.
I suggest that he doesn't go alone. → I suggest that he not go alone.
The negative subjunctive is not + bare verb, never doesn't.
Memory tip
Think of the subjunctive as a reported command: I suggest that he go ≈ “Go!”. Commands never inflect — which is exactly why this does not either.
Summary
- suggest, insist, demand, recommend, propose + that + S + bare verb.
- It is essential / vital / necessary + that + S + be.
- Negative: not + bare verb. British English often adds should.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.