Which one of the following sentences sounds right to you?
- I've encountered a fill-in-the-blank double-choice question which bothers me a lot because the one I thought was right was actually wrong. But I'm not convinced so I would like you to help me out here and tell me which one you think sounds better or is grammatically correct.
a) Those with unpaid parking citations are not eligible to receive a new parking permit until outstanding citations be paid.
b) Those with unpaid parking citations are not eligible to receive a new parking permit until outstanding citations have been paid.
a) sounds right to me at first but it turns out wrong according to the grammar drill book I'm using. It doesn't explain why a) is wrong or b) is more preferable. Please help me. Thanks.
Top answer
Such tests often instruct you to select the best answer, not the right one. That's what you have here. Answer "a" is indeed correct, but it treads right on the line beyond which the subjunctive is dead.
- Such tests often instruct you to select the best answer, not the right one.
- That's what you have here.
- Answer "a" is indeed correct, but it treads right on the line beyond which the subjunctive is dead.
- Nobody I know would say it that way.
- In fact, not many people I know would recognize it as possible.
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Such tests often instruct you to select the best answer, not the right one. That's what you have here. Answer "a" is indeed correct, but it treads right on the line beyond which the subjunctive is dead. Nobody I know would say it that way. In fact, not many people I know would recognize it as possible. Answer "b" is also correct, and everybody I know would say it that way.
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