A directive issued by the universitys new Dean requires of all litera

require can be subjunctive or 'to' verb. Isn't it ?

A directive issued by the university’s new Dean requires of all literature departments that the focus be the same on texts authored by women as on texts having comparable literary importance that were authored by men.


(A) that the focus be the same on texts authored by women as on texts having comparable literary importance that were

(B) that the focus on texts authored by women should be the same as on a text having comparable literary importance

(C) to focus the same on texts authored by women as on texts of comparable literary importance that were

(D) to focus the same regardless of whether a text was authored by a woman or is one having comparable literary importance

(E) to focus as much on texts authored by women as on a text having comparable literary value


B has subjunctive issue - should uses wrong in subjunctive mode
C & A have same issue - after "as on texts " what? rests of are modifier.
D - bad sentence
E - though it has little issue but seems better than A

Between A & E - not sure which is correct. but choose E

Confused b/w A and E. Option E look more structured.

Not sure why C is wrong. Can anyone explain? I boiled my options down to C and E and it seemed to me that C conveyed the meaning better.

In my opinion, there is no grammatical error in (C) either. Just that the use of "subjunctive mood" is what swings the needle in the favour of (A) here.

Experts' Global Official Explanation:

Subjunctive Mood + Comparison + Redundancy/Awkwardness

• The use of the verb “requires” in this sentence suggests that using the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context.
• “bossy verb (“requires”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive usage.
• Any elements linked by a conjunction (“or” in this sentence) must be parallel.

A. Correct. This answer choice maintains parallelism throughout the sentence and maintains proper subjunctive mood usage by adhering to the “bossy verb (“requires”) + that + something be done” construction. Please remember, the use of the verb “requires” in this sentence suggests that using the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context.

B. The use of the word “should” alongside the verb “requires” is redundant. Additionally, this answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood usage, as it utilizes the verb phrase “should be” rather than the construction “something be done”. Please remember, the use of the verb “requires” in this sentence suggests that using the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context. Furthermore, “bossy verb (“requires”) + that + something be done” is a correct subjunctive usage.

C. Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain a correct subjunctive mood usage, as it incorrectly utilizes the verb phrase “to focus…” rather than the “bossy verb (“requires”) + that + something be done” construction. Please remember, the use of the verb “requires” in this sentence suggests that using the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context.

D. This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between “was authored by a woman” and “is one having…”. Additionally, Option D repeats the subjunctive mood error seen in Option C, failing to maintain a correct subjunctive mood usage; D incorrectly utilizes the verb phrase “to focus…” rather than the “bossy verb (“requires”) + that + something be done” construction. Please remember, the use of the verb “requires” in this sentence suggests that using the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context.

E. Trap. This answer choice fails to maintain parallelism between the nouns “texts” and “a text”, as the former is plural and the latter is singular. Additionally, Option E repeats the subjunctive mood error seen in Option C, failing to maintain a correct subjunctive mood usage; it incorrectly utilizes the verb phrase “to focus…” rather than the “bossy verb (“requires”) + that + something be done” construction. Please remember, the use of the verb “requires” in this sentence suggests that using the subjunctive mood is preferable in this context.

A is the best answer choice.

shohan2722
SaurabhSuman12345

This is a subjunctive mood as triggered by "require".
In subjunctive mood, we use "that" + 1st form of the verb.

Hi I am confused here. IMO the subjenctive coonstruction is "bossy verb + that X+ subject + verb in simple form"
So why A is correct and E is wrong!