It was agreed that... (should) root of verb

Question

StartFragment&gt; In a test, there was a question like the below.The answer is (d), and I agree with that.But I am not 100 agree with the rule of the answer.It said the rule is "It was agreed that... (should) root of verb."So the answer should be (d)31. It was agreed that the company _______________ its prices.(a) be not raise(b) not raises (c) raise not (d) not raisePlease check out the below website.http://www.scrutiny.cam.ac.uk/minutes/03-07-03.htm We can see "It was agreed that" structure, and half of them have past tenses.Help me and let me out of this tricky problem.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Yes, it is a very tricky situation. Here is my best explanation.
The verb "agree" is in a special class of verbs called catenative verbs. These are verbs that are followed by another verb in the form of infinitive or gerund. Here are examples with infinitives in different tenses:

He intends to finish the job by 3:00.
She promised to call me.
The company will help to clean up the trash.
I hope to finish my work early, because I hate working late.

Notice that the subject of the main verb is the same as the subject of the infinitive.
In cases where the main catenative verb is in passive voice, the form must change, using "that" + the subject of the infinitive.+ bare infinitive:

It was agreed that he finish the job by 3:00. It was intended that he pay the full price.
Most of the sentences in your link are the active form: (They agreed to send the .... )
[EDIT] I have a correction to the above. It does not relate to catenative verbs, but the subjunctive mood in a subordinate clause. The subjunctive mood is used following a verb expressing a wish, desire, recommendation, etc.

Avangi · Answer

There's only one which qualifies for the bare infinitive, and that one is correct: "It was agreed that we should observe that the University etc."

All the others do not conform to the required pattern.

I've listed the numbers and types of the phrases of interest: 15 examples of passive, "it was agreed etc." / 11 passive "it was etc."

(8) it was agreed to

(2) it was thought that

(6) it was noted that

(1) it was suggested that

(6) it was agreed that . . . . ~~should~~

(1) it was agreed that . . . . should

(+ 1 "it was not known," + 1 "it was not clear")

The absence of "should" in these cases you refer to makes all the difference.

"It was agreed that you were / had been late on Tuesday." This is simply agreeing that something happened in the past.

"It was agreed that you should forfeit five hour's wages." This is agreeing that something should happen in the future. ("Forfeit" is the bare infinitive, or "root," as you call it.)

I don't know if the "rule" you quote was part of your exam or not. Neither do I know if "should" is considered optional in your rule.

"Should" was not in the exam question you quoted. If "raised" had been among the answer options, it would have been acceptable - but it was not there.

Without the "should," either tense may be used. "It was agreed that we believe in Santa Clause." "It was agreed that we [had] acted foolishly."

With "should," you must use the bare infinitive. Perhaps you can straighten out how your rule fits into your exam.

Best regards, - A.

Edit -

AlpheccaStars Most of the sentences in your link are the active form: (They agreed to send the .... )

Hi, A/S. I'm having trouble finding these. - A.

Edit- Edit- I found one!

"The chairman agreed to follow up this matter etc."

Anonymous · Answer

Answer d is correct because it's the only one in the subjunctive mood.

The word 'should' is either present (i.e. explicit) or absent (i.e. implicit) in such instances.

Thus there are two options:

1. It was agreed that the company not raise its prices.
2. It was agreed that the company should not raise its prices.

The meaning of both sentences is the same.

It was agreed that... (should) root of verb

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