General Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Plural or singular in this sentence?

It is written in the Subjunctive Mood, used to emphasize, in a formal way, the importance of a direction or order.
"The doctors ordered that his father remain in bed for a week, and that he return to work only when he is fully fit."

Your sentence is a directive, termed 'critical', and so its importance is emphasised by the use of the subjective, 'keep' instead of 'keeps'

Re: Plural or singular in this sentence?

It is critical that the supplier keep customers apprised of...

It has nothing to do with singular or plural. As written, this is a mandative subjunctive construction as evidenced by the use of the plain verb-form "keep".

There's no reason why you can't drop the subjunctive and use the non-mandative declarative with the tensed form "keeps" -- the only difference is one of formality, with the subjunctive being the more formal option.

Incidentally, 'subjunctive' is NOT a mood form but a construction type recognisable by the use of the plain form of the verb.

And it's NOT a directive either, though it does invoke the concept of 'compliance'.



PaulM

Re: Plural or singular in this sentence?

Would Mr.Matthews care to explain why "The doctors ordered..." is not a directive, given by the medicos?