Improve Your Writing

The UN requested that the government _______ its policy.

	a)	amends
	b)	amend
	c)	will amend
Please select an answerNo. You need the subjunctive after 'requested'. Correct. This is the subjunctive after a verb (request) expressing compulsion.No. You do not need a future tense here.

If only he _______ more skillful, he would make a good football player.

	a)	was
	b)	is
	c)	were
Please select an answerNo. You need the subjunctive after 'if' expressing a hypothetical situation. No. You need a past tense here. Correct. This is the subjunctive after 'if' expressing a hypothetical situation.

If the tickets ________ cheaper, we would have gone to the concert.

	a)	had been
	b)	were
	c)	are
Please select an answerWell done. No need for the subjunctive in this case. No. You need the 'had been' to balance the 'would have gone'. No. Wrong tense.

The chairman moved that the meeting _______ moved to Wednesday.

	a)	was
	b)	is
	c)	be
Please select an answerNo. You need a subjunctive here after 'moved that'. No. You need a subjunctive here after 'moved that'. Correct. This is the correct form of the subjunctive.

I wish it _______ warmer.

	a)	was
	b)	is
	c)	were
Please select an answerNo. This is not the subjunctive. No. You need the past tense here. Correct. This is the correct form of the subjunctive.

The boss insisted that the salesforce _______ its results.

	a)	improve
	b)	improved
	c)	improves
Please select an answerCorrect. This is the present subjunctive. No. This is the wrong tense. No. You need the subjunctive after 'insisted that'.

If Peter _______ better behaved, he would not be in so much trouble at school.

	a)	was
	b)	were
	c)	is
Please select an answerNo. You need the subjunctive here. Well done. This is the correct form of the subjunctive. No. This is the wrong tense.

The commission recommended that the minister _______.

	a)	will resign
	b)	resigns
	c)	resign
Please select an answerNo. You do not need the future tense here. No. You need the subjunctive after 'recommended that'.Well done. You need the subjunctive after 'recommended that'.

If the new striker _______ a better goal-scorer, we might win more matches.

	a)	is
	b)	was
	c)	were
Please select an answerNo. Wrong tense. No. You need the subjunctive here. Correct. You need the subjunctive here.

The emperor demanded that the thief ________ brought before him.

	a)	were
	b)	was
	c)	be
Please select an answerNo. Wrong tense. No. Wrong tense. Correct. You need the subjunctive here.