Dear Friends,
Here is a detailed explanation to this question-
ashishd wrote:
Several senior officials spoke to the press on condition that they not be named in the story.
(A) that they not be named
(B) that their names will not be used
(C) that their names are not used
(D) of not being named
(E) they will not be named
Concepts tested here: Subjunctive Mood + Redundancy/Awkwardness . The term “condition” is a subjunctive trigger here; “subjunctive trigger (“condition”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood construction.
A: Correct. This answer choice maintains the subjunctive mood, as it uses the construction “subjunctive trigger (“condition”) + that + something be done (“they not be named”)”. Further, Option A is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.
B: Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood construction, as it uses the simple future tense verb “will not be used” rather than the “something be done” construction to refer to an action referred to by a subjunctive trigger (“condition” – in this sentence); please remember, “subjunctive trigger (“condition”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood construction. Further, Option B uses the needlessly wordy construction “their names will not be used”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
C: This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood construction, as it uses the phrase “are not used” rather than the “something be done” construction to refer to an action referred to by a subjunctive trigger (“condition” – in this sentence); please remember, “subjunctive trigger (“condition”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood construction. Further, Option C uses the needlessly wordy construction “their names are not used”, leading to awkwardness and redundancy.
D: This answer choice fails to utilize the subjunctive mood to refer to an action associated with a subjunctive trigger (“condition” – in this sentence), as it uses the phrase “of not being named” rather than the “that + something be done” construction to act upon the noun “condition”; please remember, “subjunctive trigger (“condition”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood construction.
E: This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood construction, as it omits the word “that” after the subjunctive trigger (“condition” – in this sentence) and uses the simple future tense verb “will not be named” rather than the “something be done” construction to refer to an action referred to by the subjunctive trigger; please remember, “subjunctive trigger (“condition”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive mood construction.
Hence, A is the best answer choice.To understand the "3 Key Subjunctive Mood Structures" on GMAT, you may want to watch the following video (~3 minutes):
All the best!
Experts' Global Team