When rates were raised in 1985, postal service officials predicted the

Predicted = Subjunctive mood

Correct Subjunctive construction is: it + be (any tense) + adjective + that + subject + verb in simple tense

A, B and E can be eliminated because that is missing.

In C, we have pronoun ambiguity. The presence of "it" makes the meaning unclear. The pronoun should have a clear antecedent. D is wordy, but the meaning is clear. I think D should be the correct answer.

Sir, while mandatoriness is one such requirement to use subjunctive mode, isn't subjunctive construction also used for "possibility" or to express a condition which is doubtful? How is that mandatory?
Thanks for pointing out the error in my explanation, but I would like to get this clarified

Between C and D, what does the pronoun? 'it' refer to?. If it refers to the rate increase in 1985, then the intent turns absurd by meaning that -- the increase would not be necessary for further rate increases--


That is why the awkward choice D is the choice to be preferred.

When rates were raised in 1985, postal service officials predicted they would make further rate increases unnecessary for at least three years.

(A) they would make further rate increases unnecessary
(B) they would mean further rate increases would not be needed
(C) that it would not be necessary for further rate increases
(D) that the increase would make further rate increases unnecessary
(E) further rate increases will not be needed

This sentence is in "past tense"
So, we can eliminate (E) for using simple future tense "will".
(A) (B) , it is unclear who "they" refers to Eliminate
(C) "not be necessary" is wordier than "unnecessary" Eliminate
(D) predicted "that" is good. use of "would" to denote the future while in the past.


Ans: (D)

No Prateek, The command subjunctive or the present subjunctive is neither used for possibilities nor hypotheticals. Can you please give some examples?

There are subjunctive mood uses in the present tense and the past tense. In the present subjunctive, the verb is always in the bare infinitive, even if the subject is plural and the tense is past or future. In the case of the present subjunctive mood, those sentences in which one would use such verbs as "is, are, was, were or will be" , should use the bare infinitive verb - be -. The subjunctive mood is used when the verb indicates a desire, intention, command, recommendation, request, resolution, or advice. It is also used along with such words as advisable, better, desirable, and directive, essential, fitting, imperative, important, necessary, urge, urgent and vital.


I am afraid you are probably confusing the issue with past subjunctives, which deal with hypotheticals or impossibles. However, in past subjunctives, you do not have the 'that' plus the bare infinitive verb structure.

Official Explanation:

The pronoun they is confusing in choices A and B because it seems to refer to officials, the nearest plural noun, rather than to rates. Choice C is grammatically incomplete: it would not be necessary must be completed by an infinitive, such as to increase rates further, rather than by the prepositional phrase for further rate increases. In choice E, the will should be would to indicate that what was predicted was only a prediction and not an accomplished fact. Choice D is best.
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Hi,
I just wanted to understand why the option (E) is wrong
Thank you!

I can see two issues with (E):

1) The clause (in the underlined portion) is explaining what the prediction was. Therefore, the word "predicted" must be followed by "that".
2) "further rate increases will not be needed" presents a picture of certainty, while the clause is clearly describing only a prediction. Therefore, the appropriate usage is "would" instead of "will".

Hope this clarifies.

KarishmaB
Is is always that "predicted that" is correct? Can there be "predicted" without "that"?

We routinely say "predicted the rise in prices..." "predicted the weather" etc.

likelihood and might together in a sentence is treated as redundant,
isn't predicted and would also redundant, since would indicates possiblity not surety