Mandative subjunctive

‘I recommend that he go’ or ‘I recommend that he goes’?

Reader’s question: If you start a sentence with ‘Someone recommends that’, what form does the following verb take? For example, ‘John recommends that Mary talk/talks to the supervisor.’

Answer: The correct usage is ‘John recommends that Mary talk to the supervisor’, but I am not sure that it matters much.

The reason the verb does not take an ‘s’ is because this construction is what is known as the mandative subjunctive (also known as the mandatory subjunctive).

The mandative subjunctive is used with clauses that usually, but not always, begin with that and express a demand, requirement, request, recommendation or suggestion. It is indicated by the use of the base form of the verb (love, skip, jump) with singular subjects.

It is recommended that the Board approve the policy.
I suggest she leave the country.
I demand that he pay his share.
God save the Queen.

The subjunctive is not used much these days, but it still has a place in the language with sentences beginning with if, as if, as though. Its construction often uses the verb were instead of was.

I wish I were you.
If I were a millionaire, …
If I were you, I would vote.

Learn more

Read my blog about the mandative subjunctive in recommendations.

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