Be released

Question

Hello,in grammar can you explaing this usage?  it's like court ordered to get them released?"court ordered that they be released in the United States"The 17 Uighurs (pronounced WEE-gurs) have been in a state of limbo since fall, when a federal district court ordered that they be released in the United States and an appeals court overturned the ruling. The Bush administration said that it did not classify the men as enemy combatants.Thanks

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi Sunsail

That basically means the court gave an order which said "They should be released" (or "You should release them").

"Be released" is in the passive voice, and the verb "be" is subjunctive.

Sunsail · Answer

I searched and found this.how are these considered subjunctive?
Thanks

Some fixed expressions use the subjunctive. Here are some examples:

Long live the King!
*** bless America!
Heaven forbid!
Be that as it may, he still wants to see her.
Come what may, I will never forget you.
We are all citizens of the world, as it were.

Yankee · Answer

Hi Sunsail

sunsailI searched and found this.how are these considered subjunctive?

Right, there are some fixed expressions that use the subjunctive. However, I'm not sure what you are asking exactly. Is your question related only to the fixed phrases you found? Do you know anything at all about the form and use of the subjunctive?

The form of the present subjunctive is identical to the bare infinitive.

The past subjunctive is identical in form to the past simple (and "were" is the past subjunctive form of the verb "be").

Sunsail · Answer

Is this subjunctive used widely? I do not see this usage very often?

this is subjunctive
"I suggest that he study."

I generally see this
"I suggest him to study" or rarely " I suggest for him to study"

to be honest I am little bit confused.

Thanks anyway

Yankee · Answer

The subjunctive is apparently still used a bit more often in American English than it is in British English.

The most likely time you will see it used is after certain verbs in a that-clause -- though the word "that" is sometimes omitted. For example, after verbs such as:

suggest, recommend, order, propose, insist, require, demand

Since the form of the present subjunctive is the same as the bare infinitive, in all but the third person singular (and the verb "be") the form is indistinguishable from the present simple. Therefore, you have probably seen it more often than you think you have.

- I recommended (that) they stay at the Holiday in.
- I suggested (that) he stay at the Holiday Inn.
- I insisted that he not be late again.

The present subjunctive also turns up in that-clauses after "It+is+(adjective)+(that)". The adjective used will usually be one that suggests importance or necessity or obligation:

It is critical/crucial/essential/imperative/important/necessary/vital (that) ...

- It is essential that he provide us with all of the details.
- It is very important that you be on time for the meeting.

sunsailI generally see this
"I suggest ~~him to study~~" or rarely " I suggest for him to study"

The first sentence is grammatically incorrect, and the second one is not particularly typical, in my opinion.

"I suggested that he study" sounds completely natural and normal to me, and it is grammatically correct. You can also say it this way:

- I suggested that he should study.

Sunsail · Answer

Thanks

are you saying this also a subjunctive usage? if not what is the difference

"I want him to change colours"
"if you donot want this to happen"

Yankee · Answer

Hi Sunsail

In my last post, I mentioned only the use of the present subjunctive in clauses introduced by the word "that". After the word "that", you will have a clause containing a subject and a verb. For example:

- I suggested that he stay at the Holiday Inn.
- It is vital that he have access to those documents.

I also talked about the present subjuctive being identical in form to the bare infinitive -- i.e. the base form of the verb, without the word "to". For example:

- The boss insisted that he work overtime.
- It is very important that you be on time for the meeting.

sunsail"I want him to change colours"

There is not only no subjunctive there, but there is also no "that-clause". Which of the two verbs were you actually asking about -- want or change?

sunsail"if you donot want this to happen"

That is not a complete sentence. It looks like half of a type 1 conditional sentence. In the IF-clause of a type 1 conditional sentence, you will generally see the present indicative form used. In this case, you have the negative form of the present indicative: "do not want".

Sunsail · Answer

Hi
let me ask briefly

"I suggested him to change colours" you said this isnot grammatically correct.but here I can say

"I want him to change colours" this is grammatically correct.my question is that why I cannot write like above? instead
I must write it

I suggest he change colours

I hope it's clear now.

Thanks

Yankee · Answer

Hi Sunsail

I'm sure you must already know that not all verbs work or can be used exactly the same way. I'm not sure there is a better "reason" than that.

The verb "suggest" is usually followed by the thing that is being suggested.

- I suggested the Holiday Inn.

If you want to add information about who received the suggestion, then you can add "to" and then the recipient of the suggestion:

- I suggested the Holiday Inn to him.

It is not idiomatic to say this, however:

- * ~~I suggested him the Holiday Inn~~.

In this sentence, the entire "that-clause" amounts to the suggestion. The whole clause acts like a direct object:

- I suggested that he stay at the Holiday Inn.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Hi Sunsail:

You are asking about 2 different subjects here, and they can be confusing. You have some very good answers already. Here are some resources for you.

1) subjunctive - this is a type of "mood" of a verb, and here are a couple of great links - the first is very detailed on how to use the subjunctive, and the second is an overview of verb moods. LINK1 LINK2

2) catenative verbs - these are verbs that can be followed by another non-finite verb, in the infinitive, root (bare infinitive), or gerund form. Here is a good LINK describing these verbs.

Please practice and ask more questions, because this is a finer point of English verbs, and can be very confusing.

All the best,
A-

s

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