A doctor advising a patient — mandative subjunctive: recommendations and requirements
Grammar · Subjunctive

Mandative Subjunctive

that + подлежащее + инфинитив без to: советы, требования и необходимость.

Rule

Когда мы советуем, требуем, просим или говорим, что что-то необходимо, после that глагол стоит в инфинитиве без to — какое бы ни было подлежащее и в каком бы времени ни стоял главный глагол. Это и есть subjunctive: мы не сообщаем факт, а говорим о том, чего кто-то хочет, требует или советует.

The pattern
verb / adjective + that + subject + base form
  • The doctor recommended that he rest for a week.
  • It's vital that everyone be on time.
  • She insisted that he not tell anyone.

В американском английском — именно так. В британском часто добавляют should: The doctor recommended that he should rest. Оба варианта верны.

Trigger words
Verbs
adviseaskdemandinsistorderproposerecommendrequestrequiresuggesturge
Adjectives · it's … that
advisablecrucialessentialimperativeimportantnecessaryvital
Nouns
demandrecommendationrequestrequirementsuggestion
  • Her suggestion that he leave early was a good one.
What looks unusual
No -s
he / she / it + base form
в 3-м лице не добавляем -s
  • She demanded that he apologise.
  • The manager requires that she attend.
Be
is / am / are / was / were → be
to be всегда превращается в be
  • It's important that he be informed.
  • We ask that you be patient.
Not
not + base form
отрицание без do / does / did
  • I suggest that he not go alone.
  • It's crucial that they not be late.

Время главной части ни на что не влияет — после that форма остаётся той же:

  • He insists that she go.
  • He insisted that she go.
Common mistakes
He suggested that she goes.
He suggested that she go.
It's vital that he is on time.
It's vital that he be on time.
I insist that he doesn't come.
I insist that he not come.
She demanded that he apologised.
She demanded that he apologise.

Осторожно: если insist или suggest значат «утверждать» или «указывать на что-то», это обычные времена: She insisted that he was lying. The results suggest that the drug works.

Lovely English · Mandative subjunctive, уровень B2–C1: почему правильно «It's vital that he be on time» и «She insisted that he not tell anyone». Правило по-русски: that + подлежащее + инфинитив без to после recommend, insist, demand, suggest и it's essential / crucial / vital that…; без -s в третьем лице, be вместо is, британский вариант с should. Пять упражнений: выбрать форму, вписать одно слово, отличить факт от требования, найти subjunctive и обойти ловушки. Звучит официально и очень уместно в эссе IELTS.