by: ext456
8 mins
Events & Promotions
|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Sep 0410:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
What does test anxiety really look like on the GMAT? For many test takers, it does not look like a panic attack. Instead, it shows up as brain fog, rereading, negative comparisons, mental noise....
Sep 0201:00 PM EDT
-11:59 PM EDT
Take 30% off all study plans with code COURSEWORK - Expires on Monday 9/7
Sep 0609:30 AM EDT
-12:30 PM EST
Top scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful EA course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Perfect class schedule and easy course access for working professionals. Class starts Sundays Sept. 6, 2026.- Sep 07
12:01 AM PDT
-11:59 PM PDT
On the 7th, GMAT Club Tests will be Free! Including all the Quizzes, Questions, and Tests. 12 AM - 11:59 PM PDT - Sep 07
10:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
A complete walkthrough of GMAT Club’s free 12-week GMAT study plan: what you study each week, how progress and goals are tracked, how the error log works, and how your practice unlocks paid tools at no cost. - Sep 09
07:00 AM PDT
-10:00 AM PDT
Meet AdComs and explore top Master’s programs - MiM, MiF, MSc, MSBA and more. - Application Fee Waivers - Free 1-Week of GMAT Club Tests: - Master's Application Toolkit - Grand Prize Giveaway - Sep 09
10:00 AM PDT
-11:00 AM PDT
Three MBA applications. Three rejections. No interview invites. A year later, Aman was admitted to Cambridge Judge, SMU, and IMD. In this episode of MBA Admit Stories, Aman shares how he rebuilt his MBA application... 
Sep 1507:00 PM EDT
-09:00 PM EST
Elite scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GMAT course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Tues/Thurs Sept. 15, 2026 - Nov. 15, 2027, 7:00pm-9:00pm EST
Sep 2108:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Boost your GMAT score in less than one month in a live online class + 6 months access to TTP OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon, Tues, Wed, Thur, Fri Sept. 21, 2026 - Oct. 9, 2027, 7:00pm-10:00pm EST
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
73% (00:35) correct
27%
(00:52)
wrong
based on 2325
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year.
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
_________________
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
Every tricky question should trigger a follow up quiz.
Build that habit with
GMAT Club Forum Quiz →.
_________________
New to the GMAT Club?
- • Questions: Question Bank | Bunuel's Signature Collection
• Tests: GMAT Club Tests | Forum Quiz
• Guides: Quantitative | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension | Ultimate Quant Guide | All You Need for Quant
• Rules: Quantitative | Verbal
devavrat, more details why A is correct while all other remaining choices are not.
There are several BossyWords, which require special usage: BOSSY WORD + THAT + BARE INFINITIVE
The list of such words:
demand
dictate
insist
mandate
request
recommend
stipulate
suggest
With these 9 verbs (and with their noun form) the use of should/will/to infinite is considered incorrect.
Right: mandate that the state budget be balanced
Wrong: mandate the state budget to be balanced - omitting "that" in subjuntive mood is an error; infinitive with "to" is also wrong.
Wrong: mandate that the state budget will be balanced - "will be" or "should be" is not allowed for subjuntive
Choices D and E are wrong for the same violation of "the subjunctive formula". Plus, it is preferred to use action verb "mandate" than to convey the same meaning with the use of noun form"have a mandate"
Another usage (all books say that it is tested more rarely on GMAT): It is IMPORTANT/ESSENTIAL + THAT + BARE INFINITIVE
There are several BossyWords, which require special usage: BOSSY WORD + THAT + BARE INFINITIVE
The list of such words:
demand
dictate
insist
mandate
request
recommend
stipulate
suggest
With these 9 verbs (and with their noun form) the use of should/will/to infinite is considered incorrect.
Right: mandate that the state budget be balanced
Wrong: mandate the state budget to be balanced - omitting "that" in subjuntive mood is an error; infinitive with "to" is also wrong.
Wrong: mandate that the state budget will be balanced - "will be" or "should be" is not allowed for subjuntive
Choices D and E are wrong for the same violation of "the subjunctive formula". Plus, it is preferred to use action verb "mandate" than to convey the same meaning with the use of noun form"have a mandate"
Another usage (all books say that it is tested more rarely on GMAT): It is IMPORTANT/ESSENTIAL + THAT + BARE INFINITIVE
General Discussion
Bunuel
+1 for A
Subjunctive + that + be
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
Posts: 6
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
Fits absolutely perfect. No grammatical errors.
Fits absolutely perfect. No grammatical errors.
devavrat
Joined: 19 Feb 2019
Last visit: 29 Apr 2021
Posts: 90
Location: India
Concentration: Marketing, Statistics
Schools: Rotman '22 (D) Krannert '22 (D) Cass '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 650 Q46 V34
GPA: 3
Hi can someone pls explain this sentence
devavrat
Isn't it explained above? Do you have any specific questions?
_________________
New to the GMAT Club?
- • Questions: Question Bank | Bunuel's Signature Collection
• Tests: GMAT Club Tests | Forum Quiz
• Guides: Quantitative | Critical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension | Ultimate Quant Guide | All You Need for Quant
• Rules: Quantitative | Verbal
devavrat
Joined: 19 Feb 2019
Last visit: 29 Apr 2021
Posts: 90
Location: India
Concentration: Marketing, Statistics
Schools: Rotman '22 (D) Krannert '22 (D) Cass '21 (WL)
GMAT 1: 650 Q46 V34
GPA: 3
Quote:
So is the question only testing specific idioms ??
Is the meaning of the sentence correct in all the 5 options?
What happens when there is no 'that' after the bossy word.
Posted from my mobile device
Posted from my mobile device
Alternatives to command subjunctive
1. Most state constitutions now mandate the state budget to be balanced each year.
2. Most state constitutions now mandate the state to balance its budget each year.
_________________
1. Most state constitutions now mandate the state budget to be balanced each year.
2. Most state constitutions now mandate the state to balance its budget each year.
_________________
Thank you Daagh for your time on GMAT Club and all your contributions! Thank you for everything you did!
Your work will remain a great tribute to you here on GMAT Club!
-bb
Your work will remain a great tribute to you here on GMAT Club!
-bb
Bunuel
I tried answering this question on the basis of logic. Here is how I went about it.
At first I see a 3-2 split at the beginning of the sentence.
[mandate v/s have a mandate]
If we say, State constitutions now have a mandate, it somewhat implies that the constitution has been mandated by something or someone.
That seems to be quite illogical as constitution can mandate but cannot be mandated
So, option D and option E are quite simply eliminated using the above logical perspective.
Next if we take (C), we can eliminate it on the basis of tense used 'will'. If we have mandated something how can we use the future tense 'will'. Think about it!
Next if we take (B), here the part 'mandate the state budget' literally means that the consitution is mandating the state budget to do something, which is illogical.
Only we are left with the correct option (A).
Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year
Here meaning seems to be quite clear.
Some constitutions mandate to do something. -> What does it mandate ? -> It mandates that .... state budget be balanced each year
Hence clearly A is the best choice of the lot.
Posts: 62
Most state constitutions now mandate that the state budget be balanced each year.
Mandate is a bossy verb indicating the use of command subjunctive in the sentence.
“Mandate + that + Subject + verb in bare form”
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
Best of All.
(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budge
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
Mandate is a bossy verb indicating the use of command subjunctive in the sentence.
“Mandate + that + Subject + verb in bare form”
(A) mandate that the state budget be balanced
Best of All.
(B) mandate the state budget to be balanced
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
(C) mandate that the state budget will be balanced
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budge
Doesn’t follow the command subjunctive template.
VeritasKarishma
Hi Karishma,
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
Why D and E are wrong?
I understand the structure required for command subjunctive.
I want to understand when "mandate" or any other subjunctive trigger word is not used as a command subjunctive.
Is it because D and E conveys illogical meaning?
Thanks!
Hi Karishma,
(D) have a mandate for a balanced state budget
(E) have a mandate to balance the state budget
Why D and E are wrong?
I understand the structure required for command subjunctive.
I want to understand when "mandate" or any other subjunctive trigger word is not used as a command subjunctive.
Is it because D and E conveys illogical meaning?
Thanks!
Sneha2021
When a command subjunctive is used as a verb, you will use subjunctive. That is why it is called command subjunctive.
The constitution will mandate/command because it is a set of rules/commands.
So mandate is used as a verb and we must use subjunctive. The constitution is the one giving the command as the constitution must. It is after all, a set of commands and rules.
The constitution mandates (commands/requires) that this be done.
We can use mandate as a noun -
The President had a clear mandate to do this.
Here we will not use subjunctive. "Mandate" is used as a noun. The President does not give the command here. He is given the command by the electorate. He has the mandate means the electorate has asked him to do this.
_________________
-
Start FREE with selected GMAT/EA Content upon registration at anaprep.com
YouTube Channel: karishma.anaprep
Start FREE with selected GMAT/EA Content upon registration at anaprep.com
YouTube Channel: karishma.anaprep
Posts: 24
Bunuel
'mandate' means 'order/require/command.' It is a bossy verb.
The constitution of any state tells us what is required. It lays down the laws and tells us what is required to be done.
So we say "constitutions mandate that ... "
We prefer the verb form. Will we say "the constitution requires that .. " or "the constitution has a requirement that ..."?
The direct, clean and best way to say it is by using the verb form 'requires.'
Hence (D) and (E) are inferior.
In option (B), the object of the verb mandate is 'the state budget.' But the constitutions do not mandate the state budget. They mandate that the state budget be balanced. In option (A), the entire 'that clause' becomes the object of the verb 'mandate' and that makes sense because that is the mandate.
Also, we cannot use the future 'will be' for a standing law/directive. Anyway we are using a subjunctive so we must use the base form of the verb 'be.'
Answer (A)
_________________
-
Start FREE with selected GMAT/EA Content upon registration at anaprep.com
YouTube Channel: karishma.anaprep
Start FREE with selected GMAT/EA Content upon registration at anaprep.com
YouTube Channel: karishma.anaprep
Automated notice from GMAT Club VerbalBot:
A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.
This post was generated automatically.
_________________
A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.
This post was generated automatically.
_________________
If this question felt shaky,
try an adaptive mini quiz of similar problems in
GMAT Club Forum Quiz →. Free plan gives 5 questions per day.
Moderators:
Announcements
Tuck at Dartmouth
AI at Dartmouth Tuck: How the School Is Preparing Leaders for the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Inside the courses, research, and hands-on learning defining wise, decisive leadership in an AI-driven world.
Read More
Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos
Success stories and strategies from high-scoring candidates.