Exercises C1 : Advanced uses of the subjunctive (answers)

These exercises build directly on the course content covering advanced subjunctive uses in English, including mandative constructions, hypothetical ‘were’, and formal conditional structures. Work through each task carefully to sharpen your grammatical precision.

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Exercice 1 — Subjunctive in Context: Fill in the Blank

Complete each sentence with the correct subjunctive form of the verb given in brackets. Write the full sentence as your answer.

1. The committee insisted that every candidate ___ (submit) their portfolio before the deadline.
2. It is essential that the new policy ___ (be) reviewed by all department heads immediately.
3. The judge recommended that the defendant ___ (remain) in custody pending further investigation.
4. Were she ___ (know) the full extent of the problem, she would have acted far sooner.

Correction

1. The committee insisted that every candidate submit their portfolio before the deadline.
2. It is essential that the new policy be reviewed by all department heads immediately.
3. The judge recommended that the defendant remain in custody pending further investigation.
4. Were she to know the full extent of the problem, she would have acted far sooner.

Exercice 2 — Transforming Conditionals into Subjunctive Structures

Rewrite each sentence using an advanced subjunctive construction (with 'were', 'were to', or a mandative that-clause) without changing the meaning. Write the full transformed sentence.

1. If he was in your position, he would negotiate a better contract.
2. The board strongly urged that all members should attend the emergency session.
3. If the government was to introduce such legislation, public resistance would be immediate.
4. The professor required that her students should hand in a full draft two weeks before the defence.

Correction

1. Were he in your position, he would negotiate a better contract.
2. The board strongly urged that all members attend the emergency session.
3. Were the government to introduce such legislation, public resistance would be immediate.
4. The professor required that her students hand in a full draft two weeks before the defence.

Exercice 3 — Spot and Correct the Subjunctive Error

Each sentence contains one error related to the use of the subjunctive. Identify the mistake and rewrite the full corrected sentence.

1. The director demanded that the report is completed before the shareholders' meeting.
2. Was she to discover the truth, the entire negotiation would collapse.
3. It is crucial that he submits his resignation in writing rather than verbally.
4. The treaty stipulated that each signatory was to reduces its carbon emissions by thirty percent.

Correction

1. The director demanded that the report be completed before the shareholders' meeting.
2. Were she to discover the truth, the entire negotiation would collapse.
3. It is crucial that he submit his resignation in writing rather than verbally.
4. The treaty stipulated that each signatory reduce its carbon emissions by thirty percent.