Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority,

Question

Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority, John Wilmot Rochester lost the favor of Charles II,  insisting that Lord Rochester should   behave more in keeping with the protocol of the time.

A) insisting that Lord Rochester should

B) insisting that Lord Rochester

C) and he insisted Lord Rochester to
 
D) who insisted that Lord Rochester
 
E) who insisted Lord Rochester to

Can someone help with this SC?

dentobizz · Accepted Answer

Hi Punyata,

Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority, John Wilmot Rochester lost the favor of Charles II,insisting that Lord Rochester should behave more in keeping with the protocol of the time.

A) insisting that Lord Rochester should

B) insisting that Lord Rochester

C) and he insisted Lord Rochester to

D) who insisted that Lord Rochester

E) who insisted Lord Rochester to

Can someone help with this SC?

We need a modifier that modifies Charles II unambiguously, and the use of command subjunctive should be corrected

Normally, the -ing modifier is used   to show cause and effect   the explain the first part of the sentence/clause in greater detail. Hence this usage is incorrect.

A) i nsisting  that Lord Rochester  should  (wrong as discussed above)

B)  insisting  that Lord Rochester (same error as A)

C)  and  he insisted Lord Rochester  to  (we do not need AND since AND would signify two separate ideas; we need a modifier; 'to behave' is wrong)

D) who insisted that Lord Rochester (who ... modifies Charles correctly & uses the verb 'behave' in the base form with the command subjunctive)CORRECT

E) who insisted Lord Rochester  to  (who correctly modifies Charles but 'to behave' is incorrect as in C) .

When a command subjunctive such as INSIST is used one has to use the verb in its base form.

HTH

dentobizz · Answer

Whenever command subjective words such as Demand,Insist,Order,etc are used The sentence shoud be of the form(...commnd subjtv....that...subject...verb in base form)
The verb MUST take a 'bare' form meaning there shouldn't be any infinitives or other tense forms applied to it.
Eg. The general ordered that the troops march out -Correct 
The general ordered the troops to march out-Wrong
The general ordered that the troops should march out -Wrong.
Don't go by your ear.

Posted from my mobile device

vogelleblanc · Answer

... I was really tempted to choose E instead of D.

Why is "to behave" wrong in this case?

abhinav11 · Answer

I have the same query . I chose E only to be disappointed.

D some how doesnt looked good without 'to be' form of verb ...

Eperts please clairfy !!

vogelleblanc · Answer

@dentobizz thanks for your quick reply

However, my question was "Why is 'to behave' wrong in this case?" not "Why is the command subjunctive right?"

I know the concept of command subjunctive and I am quite familiar with it. Still, in this case must be something wrong about the expression "to behave" and this is what I (and probably also abhinav11) would like to

IsaacEconomistGMAT · Answer

Hi there

The  to behave  is simply wrong because the subjunctive mood is used here, but I see your question.

The grammar rule is fairly strict here. You cannot say  I insisted that he 'to go' . As a way to remember this, look at the clause starting with 'that' - this needs a verb not an infinitive (to + V1). Even if we take away the 'that' and make the relative pronoun implicit, you still need a proper verb, so to speak.

vogelleblanc · Answer

Thank you for your efforts!
But I still don't get it. You say the "that" in the clause requires the usage of the command subjunctive. I would get this. However, going with option E would not include such a "that". The sentence would be:
"Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority, John Wilmot Rochester lost the favor of Charles II, who insisted Lord Rochester to behave more in keeping with the protocol of the time."

So, what is so wrong about this sentence that I should rather pick option D?

IsaacEconomistGMAT · Answer

Yes I see it

However the conjugated 'insisted' in this case (as a command) requires the subjunctive which then requires the 'that' (the that can also be implicit)

Are you equating the insisted with verbs like wanted (eg he wanted them to arrive early etc)? In other cases, the 'to + v1 would be just fine

dentobizz · Answer

Basically this it like a  Rule  something like  idioms , you don't have a explanation for each of them.
Similarly, the structure of the sentence when command subjective words are used is  fairly strict  (.. bossy verb  (propose/order/insist) + that + subject + verb in bare form )No room for infinitives, other forms of  'to be'  verbs (is/are/am) even though they may make sense.

Exceptions :  some words such as Advise,allow,forbid,want,persuade will take an infinitive  NOT that {We  advise  you  to  seek medical help}
while  few verbs can take either take the command subjunctive or infinitive  :ask,beg,prefer,urge,require etc {I  beg that  you pay him} or {I beg you to pay him}
Hope this helps

Blackmamba · Answer

The first step is to understand the meaning of the sentence.
The intended meaning mentions that Charles II insisted that Lord Rochester should behave more in keeping with the protocol of the time.

Error Analysis:

Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority, John Wilmot Rochester lost the favor of Charles II,insisting that Lord Rochester should behave more in keeping with the protocol of the time.

A) insisting that Lord Rochester should - ", ing" after the clause "John Wilmot Rochester lost the favor of Charles II", modifies John Wilmot Rochester nonsensically suggesting that Rochester insisted something. Hence Wrong. 
B) insisting that Lord Rochester  - Same error as discusssed in A 
C) and he insisted Lord Rochester to -  Pronoun he is ambiguous and also if he is referring to Rochester, the meaning is nonsensical. 
D) who insisted that Lord Rochester -  The correct version introduces the relative pronoun "Who" refering to Charles II, also the use of the command subjunctive "that..behave" is preferred .
E) who insisted Lord Rochester to -  Incorrect, instead use the command subjunctive in reporting structures

Regards,
Chechaxo

Abhishek009 · Answer

The word   insist   indicates possibility of use of subjunctive mood.

Here in sentence (C) who correctly refers to John Wilmot Rochester , further the general structure of Subjunctive form is

Subjunctive Verb ( Insist ) + that Noun ( Lord Rochester ) + base form of the verb ( behave )

Hence IMHO (C)

This sentence tests correct use of -

1. Pronoun - Who
  2. Subjunctive form - Subjunctive Verb + that Noun + base form of the verb

thangvietname · Answer

c is wronb because " he insisted...:" dose not logically connect with "because of ..."

daagh · Answer

The subject of the first IC is JWR; He cannot insist upon himself to behave. The pronoun ‘he’ therefore is illogical. Secondly, the infinitive to behave is uncoordinated with the subjunctive mood. Hence, C is ruled out.

vishwash · Answer

thanks for a great question.. totally forgot the command subjunctive and selected D... by the way thanks to the experts for a sweet and short understanding of the command subjunctive

mvictor · Answer

yes..tricky question...it all comes down to understanding the meaning.
eliminated A/C/E because of the incorrect usage of the subjunctive mood.

between B and D:
B says that the result of the loss was smth - but it doesn't actually make sense, when the subject insisted on himself to do smth...

B is eliminated, and D stands.

sarphant123 · Answer

Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority, John Wilmot Rochester lost the favor of Charles II,insisting that Lord Rochester should behave more in keeping with the protocol of the time.
Insist is a bossy verb that is used to indicate Command Subjunctive.
The format of which is “bossy verb + that + subject + Command Subjunctive”

A) insisting that Lord Rochester should
The -ing modifier modifies the entire previous sentence showing a cause and effect relationship or explains the previous part of the sentence in greater detail.
Here, it means John Wilmot Rochester insist that Lord Rochester should behave.- Doesn’t make sense as one can’t insist himself.
So Incorrect.

B) insisting that Lord Rochester
Incorrect due to the modifier issue.

C) and he insisted Lord Rochester to
What is he referring to ? - John Wilmot Rochester?
That again doesn’t make sense as JWR insisting Rochester should behave.
Incorrect.

D) who insisted that Lord Rochester
Best of All. Follows Subjunctive rules.

E) who insisted Lord Rochester to
Incorrect as it doesn’t follow subjunctive rule.

udaypratapsingh99 · Answer

This is a good question, checking knowledge of: 1) modifiers, 2) subjunctive

A, B, & C can be eliminated as "who insisted" follows the correct modifier structure.

But, insisted triggers subjunctive mood, and therefore, in D & E, we need to apply Subjunctive clause rule. Subjunctive follows "That + base form of verb".

Therefore,   D is the correct answer

Aditi31 · Answer

I was facing issues in the subjunctive mood questions. After reading your and  ExpertsGlobal5  explanations of subjunctives, my reasoning regarding such questions has improved. Thanks.
In one of your explanations you mentioned, “When a verb, noun, or adjective of recommendation, requirement, or request is followed by a "that" clause, the verb in the "that" clause will be in the subjunctive mood. But a verb, noun, or adjective of recommendation, requirement, or request does not have to be followed by a "that" clause.”
According to the above statement, "that" isn't necessary. Enlighten me.

VerbalBot · Answer

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Because of his reckless actions and disdain for authority,

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