0
JungKim Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

subjunctive

In the following sentence, is there any reason for using the subjuctive "be"?
"It would be to our mutual advantage that our nations be united by a bond stronger than friendship."

Is it possible to use some other tense in place of be?
  

Top answer

"

— BarbaraPA

  • "
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
This would read much more naturally to me as "...mutual advantage for our nations to be united..."

The subjunctive would work with "It is recommended our nations be united..."
0
0
"It would be to our mutual advantage that our nations be united by a bond stronger than friendship."
Grammar GeekThis would read much more naturally to me as "...mutual advantage for our nations to be united..."The subjunctive would work with "It is recommended our nations be united..."
So the original sentence doesn't sound natural to you?
0
0
I agree with GG. The original sounds a bit stilted and awkward to me.

Here is another option using the subjunctive mood:

"It would be to our mutual advantage if our nations were united by a bond stronger than friendship."
0
0
"It would be to our mutual advantage that our nations be united by a bond stronger than friendship."
AlpheccaStarsI agree with GG. The original sounds a bit stilted and awkward to me.
Actually, so do I. Otherwise, I wouldn't have posted this question in the first place. Initially, I just thought that I wasn't too familiar with the original sentence simply
0
0
That seems like a good guess to me.
0

Related Questions