Several financial officers of the company spoke on condition that they

Dear Friends,

Here is a detailed explanation to this question-

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

Well we all know that subjunctive mood usage demands the verbs in their original form......

so wat makes a statement subjunctiive???/

"When the subjective is used after verbs expressing some kind of wish,recommendations,proposals,desire,regret,doubt or demand ;there is a certain degree of uncertainilty attached to it "


Here named is the verb....so shud be used in base form..

ans is A.

+ kudos if u like the answer !!!!

Condition>>Subjunctive reqd>>use "that".
Eliminate D,E

I think we can eliminate C on the grounds that the press reports will happen in the future..C uses present tense..

Explanations for A and B please!!

Oa is

You answered your Question.

Subjunctive is formed with "That" + "Infinitive form of the verb"

(A) Condition that be named
(B) cONDITION that will be named

Defn of Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a command, a wish, a suggestion or a condition that is contrary to fact. A verb in the subjunctive mood may have a different form to one with the same subject which is not in the subjunctive mood.

Dont restrict your answers to Bossy Verbs.

Several senior officials spoke to the press on condition name 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

Some thoughts:

1. Subjunctive:
The prime issue of this sentence is "on condition that,". The sentence requires the subjunctive.

Read the following sentences from washingtontimes:

"Rewards for those who supported the president's 2008 campaign have been doled out in less formal ways. Two top bundlers, for instance, described invitations to bring their families to the private bowling alley at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the White House. Both spoke on the condition they not be named because they did not want to damage their relationship with the White House."

=> the original sentence is there.

In case of subjunctive, only the base form of verbs should be used.

Answer is A.

listen buddies , a subjunctive requires a verb + that ....it can not be used with a noun such as "condition".... we can not apply subjunctive rule here.... therefore B is the correct answer .... enjoy

This is definitely a case of the command present subjunctive mood. There is no doubt about that.
The condition that the senor officials imposed was the mandating that the command subjunctive requires. Secondly, it completes the command in a subordinate clause introduced by the customary subordinate connector ‘that’ and thirdly the verb is in the imperative form i.e., ‘not be named’. What more is required?

I have not seen in any OG or GPREP site. Is it a proprietory topic?

I would have to say B.

In A, "they not be named" suggests that the officials didnt have names before and that they don't even want to get one in the story! Its my opinion however. I find A misleading.

B sounds more clear to me.

The issue will be clear is we could discuss some examples or counter-examples. So please..!

Of course, this is a fit case of command subjunctive. ‘Spoke on a condition’ tantamounts to mandatoriness.

Therefore, A is right.

P.S: If I remember correct, this question is from the 1000 SC series, adopted by various tutorial institutions.

the non-underline part is past tense construction. B,C,D and E Out. However, can someone clarify what is command subjunctive here? (spoke?)

It may be beside the point, but the proper construction around "on condition that" is integral to selecting the right answer. Because the phrase is both colloquial and regional (I'm pretty sure American English prefers "on the condition that"), I think it's unlikely the GMAT would ask a question like this.

B and C present the pattern in which the verb form of of subjuctive mood is used. so, "will" and "are" are wrong

we need to show why D and E is wrong. this is important,

not showing properly why d and e is wrong is not understanding properly the trick gmat use on all sc problems.

if you like my posting, give me a kudos to encourage me to post.

A classic command subjunctive issue that is implied through the bossy word, 'on condition'. The text rightly articulates subjunctive ness with the relative clause connector 'that ' followed by the subjunctive mood verb 'not be named". A perfect foil. All other choices carry various other patterns of verbing and get disqualified. A, by all means

Hi,

is it really mandatory that ''Bossy words'' should be followed by ''That'' and form a subjunctive clause.?

can someone explain, what is wrong with option E?

Thanks

Hi
E is wrong because conditions of should take a noun after of
Of is a preposition .
In E we have a gerund naming but it is not a noun that is why E is wrong.

"spoke on condition" acts like a request, so "command subjunctive" has been used here.

Several senior officials spoke to the press on condi­tion that they not be named in the story.

(A) that they not be named --> correct

(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