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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Leave

Hi.

I've found this in a grammar book: "On condition that he leave town immediately, he was released from jail."

The verb "leave" is in the subjunctive form in the On condition that he leave town immediately clause.

My question is: is the verb "leave" still in the subjunctive mode in the sentence with changed pronouns "On condition that they leave town immediately, they were released from jail." ?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Anonymous The verb "leave" is in the subjunctive form in the On condition that he leave town immediately clause. Technically, it’s not really a subjunctive form but a plain form, the same form that occurs in imperative and infinitival clauses. T hat he leave town immediately is a subjunctive clause.

— RandomGuy

  • Anonymous The verb "leave" is in the subjunctive form in the On condition that he leave town immediately clause.
  • Technically, it’s not really a subjunctive form but a plain form, the same form that occurs in imperative and infinitival clauses.
  • T hat he leave town immediately is a subjunctive clause.
  • " It can be seen as either a plain form or a plain present form, since either a subjunctive or a covert mandative is possible here.
  • Most speakers of AmE would take it to be a plain form, while most BrE speakers would consider it a plain present form.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousThe verb "leave" is in the subjunctive form in the On condition that he leave town immediately clause.
Technically, it’s not really a subjunctive form but a plain form, the same form that occurs in imperative and infinitival clauses. That he leave town immediately is a subjunctive clause.
AnonymousMy question is:
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Thank you, AG, for your reply.
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