Present Subjunctive, Subjunctive

Question

Dear Teachers,

I have looked up summaries and posts on the subjunctive but I still have problems; could you, please, be so kind as to help me?

In bold is where I'm not sure what tense/auxiliary to use; it's mostly about Present Subjunctive because I read that it is used almost exclusively in a formal context.
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The policemen are standing there so that the drunk crowd shouldn’t be able to spread and start vandalizing shop windows.

He asked that you shouldn’t let it out even if it starts shouting at you.

I put the object at their place so that I offer the dog the chance to show that it can be trusted.

…which I’ll stash away so that we have a few spare ones.

I will rather just sit here and watch, so that everything will be all right.

So from now, you can start sharpening your mind so that you become as quick-witted as your cousin.

Her mother has taken away her other toys for this day so that he realize that he should set a higher value on them.

In acupuncture, doctors poke needles into the person’s body so that they intensify the flow of energy in the meridians.

Jane puts a chewed bubble gum into her hand, so that when she congratulates the boy, it get stuck to the boy’s palm and he find himself in an embarrassing situation.

The corporation binds itself to ensure that the winner of the gold medal is going to get a complete gym.

She was praying to God that He help her start a family.

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Please, could you let me know which parts are wrong, and put in alternatives as well if there are any?

Thank you very much.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Most of your examples contain "so that", and "so that" does not take the subjunctive in modern English. If you have a book that says "so that" takes the subjunctive, you have a book that is about 100 years behind the times.

Constructions with modal verbs like "will", "would", and "should" are not subjunctive constructions.

The policemen are standing there so that the drunk crowd won't spread and start vandalizing shop windows. OK as shown. Not subjunctive, however.

…which I’ll stash away so that we have a few spare ones. OK. Not subjunctive, however.

I would rather just sit here and watch, so that everything will be all right. OK as shown. Not subjunctive, however.

So from now, you can start sharpening your mind so that you become as quick-witted as your cousin. OK. Not subjunctive, however.

Her mother has taken away her other toys for the day so that she realizes that she should set a higher value on them. OK as shown.

In acupuncture, doctors poke needles into the person’s body so that they intensify the flow of energy in the meridians. OK. Not subjunctive, however.

Jane puts a chewed bubble gum into her hand, so that when she congratulates the boy, it gets stuck to the boy’s palm and he finds himself in an embarrassing situation. OK as shown. Not subjunctive. 'will get stuck' and 'will find himself' also possible.
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Other examples not involving "so that".

He asked that you ~~shouldn’t~~ not let it out even if it starts shouting at you. This one is subjunctive as shown.

The corporation binds itself to ensure that the winner of the gold medal ~~is going to~~ will get a complete gym.

She was praying to *** that *** would help her start a family.
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In modern English, the present subjunctive is just the bare infinitive. You need to learn the situations in which it is used. For one thing it's used in clauses that occur after a few verbs of influence: ask that you be there on time, demand that something be done, insist that she have everything ready for us.

The negation is 'not': ask that you not be late again, suggest that he not bring his dog along.

A common substitute for the subjunctive is the 'should' construction: insist that she should have everything ready before we arrive. It's a substitute, not the subjunctive itself.
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Here is a quick summary of the use of the (present) subjunctive:

1. with certain verbs (demand, suggest, ...) (We demand/demanded that he go.)

2. with certain adjectives (important, necessary, ...) (It is/was important that he go.)

3. with certain nouns (demand, suggestion, ...) (The suggestion that he go ...)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Many-many thanks, CalifJim, for your detailed post!!

I’d only like to ask if it’s possible here to say “so that she WILL realize” :

Her mother has taken away her other toys for the day so that she realizes that she should set a higher value on them. OK as shown.
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And whether below, I could say, “GETS a complete gym”

The corporation binds itself to ensure that the winner of the gold medal ~~is going to~~will get a complete gym.

Thank you!

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI’d only like to ask if it’s possible here to say “so that she WILL realize” :

Yes. That's possible too.

AnonymousAnd whether below, I could say, “GETS a complete gym”

Yes. Another alternate version.
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There is usually more than one correct way to say something.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much, CalifJim!

Have a nice weekend!

Present Subjunctive, Subjunctive

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