Possible tenses after "asks God that"

Question

Hi. Please help. What tenses are possible after the phrase "asks God that"? If my question is too broad, are the following possible? Thank you in advance.

1. He asks God that He allow...
2. He asks God that He may allow...
3. He asks God that He will make...
4. He asks God that if this should happen, he would make...

Rover_KE · Accepted Answer

I don't know why you want to start your sentences with 'He asks *** that. . .' (except for #4, which is fine).

The others would sound more natural if they began

'He asks *** to allow/to make. . .'

Rover

Regards · Answer

Hi,

The structure ask that is somewhat formal and commonly used together with the subjunctive mood.
In that sense, ask means request or demand. Using this structure makes your request sound very firm, then.

For example:
1. I ask that you be present at the meeting.
2. I ask that you speak softly here.
3. I ask that you not tell her anything about that.

So, in terms of grammar, I would use the bare infinitive after he: "asks...that he allow / make..."
Semantically, however, I believe that in your sentences you used asks that incorrectly: you probably
don't want to convey the meaning of asking for something firmly. For this reason, your first three sentences
don't sound correct to me.

I would write:
He asks...to allow / make...

As for your fourth sentence, I think will would be a better choice than would.

Regards

Possible tenses after "asks God that"

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