16Hit1600
Standard English ConventionsVery hardSubjunctive after a verb of demand

Standard English Conventions practice question

The inspector insisted that every ladder on the site ____ tagged with the date of its last check.

Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?

  1. A. beCorrect
  2. B. is
  3. C. was
  4. D. will be

Answer: A. be

After "insisted that", the subjunctive "be" expresses a requirement.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. is
Indicative; states a fact rather than a demand.
C. was
Past indicative.
D. will be
Future indicative.

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