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12 Oct 2021, 23:35
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D
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% (00:45) correct
27%
(01:04)
wrong
based on 236
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
As a result of the ongoing budgetary crisis, city officials have begun to insist that all unnecessary spending is curtailed for the foreseeable future.
A) insist that all unnecessary spending is curtailed
B) insist that all unnecessary spending should be curtailed
C) insist on all unnecessary spending to be curtailed
D) insist that all unnecessary spending be curtailed
E) insist on all unnecessary spending is curtailed
12 Oct 2021, 23:41
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OFFICIAL EXPLANATION
THE PROMPT
The verb insist is a clue that the subjunctive is required.
Certain "bossy" and other verbs require a very specific construction called "command subjunctive" or "mandative subjunctive."
I do not care what you call the construction. Some people like terminology. Others do not.
For an overview of the command subjunctive, please read THIS post by GMAT Club founder bb .
→ We construct the command subjunctive this way:
bossy verb + THAT + noun + bare infinitive
-- The judge insisted that the jurors be sequestered.
-- Did she insist that everyone go into the tornado shelter?
The bare infinitive is simply the infinitive without the word "to."
Infinitive: To curtail
Bare infinitive: curtail
Except for the verb to be, the subjunctive construction can seem deceptively simple because it does not sound strange when the noun/subject is I, you, or we, because the conjugated verb and the bare infinitive are the same in those cases.
→ These examples do not sound jarring.
The judge insisted that I approach the bench.
The judge insists that you answer the attorney's question.
The judge insisted that we sequester ourselves.
→ These examples do sound jarring, but they are used in U.S. formal writing frequently.
The judge insisted that he approach the bench. (Strange because the third person is usually "approaches.")
The judge insisted that she be on time. (Strange because the "be" part of "to be" is used rather than is)
Each options presents a different way in which GMAC may try to trick you.
THE OPTIONS
→ the subjunctive be should replace is in this option
→ we cannot use the "regular" indicative verb tense because the latter is not a bare infinitive.
ELIMINATE A
→ A command already implies a should.
→ In British English, should is allowed. Not so in the U.S.. Not so on the GMAT.
ELIMINATE B
→ the infinitive (to be), like the indicative, is not allowed in the command subjunctive construction.
• idiom error - insist on must be paired with a gerund (a verbING)
→ Correct: After he accidentally spilled coffee, the apologetic waiter insisted on paying for the woman's jacket to be dry-cleaned.
ELIMINATE C
• This option follows the correct structure, namely
insist + that + unnecessary spending + (bare infinitive) be curtailed
KEEP
→ we should use be rather than is
→ does not follow the command subjunctive's correct construction
• insist on should be followed by gerund (a verbING) ("spending" is not the right gerund here)
Correct: City officials have begun to insist on mask wearing in grocery stores.
ELIMINATE E
The correct answer is D.
• Takeaways
1) Use
insist + ON + gerund (verbing)
or
2) Use
insist + that + noun/subject + bare infinitive
When #2 is used, in U.S. English and on the GMAT, should must never be a part of the construction.
A command already implies "should."
When #2 is used, employ only the bare infinitive.
→ any other verb tense or verb phrase is incorrect
COMMENTS
Jaidude , welcome to SC Butler. (If I've welcomed you before—well, then you get two welcomes.)
Jaidude and siddharthkapoor , I am bumping you both to Best Community Reply, in no particular order.
Keep up the good work, everyone.
And stay safe.
Project SC Butler: Sentence Correction (SC1)
THE PROMPT
Quote:
• COMMAND SUBJUNCTIVE ("mandative subjunctive") -- the verb insist
The verb insist is a clue that the subjunctive is required.
Certain "bossy" and other verbs require a very specific construction called "command subjunctive" or "mandative subjunctive."
I do not care what you call the construction. Some people like terminology. Others do not.
For an overview of the command subjunctive, please read THIS post by GMAT Club founder bb .
→ We construct the command subjunctive this way:
bossy verb + THAT + noun + bare infinitive
-- The judge insisted that the jurors be sequestered.
-- Did she insist that everyone go into the tornado shelter?
The bare infinitive is simply the infinitive without the word "to."
Infinitive: To curtail
Bare infinitive: curtail
Except for the verb to be, the subjunctive construction can seem deceptively simple because it does not sound strange when the noun/subject is I, you, or we, because the conjugated verb and the bare infinitive are the same in those cases.
→ These examples do not sound jarring.
The judge insisted that I approach the bench.
The judge insists that you answer the attorney's question.
The judge insisted that we sequester ourselves.
→ These examples do sound jarring, but they are used in U.S. formal writing frequently.
The judge insisted that he approach the bench. (Strange because the third person is usually "approaches.")
The judge insisted that she be on time. (Strange because the "be" part of "to be" is used rather than is)
Each options presents a different way in which GMAC may try to trick you.
THE OPTIONS
Quote:
• verb error
→ the subjunctive be should replace is in this option
→ we cannot use the "regular" indicative verb tense because the latter is not a bare infinitive.
ELIMINATE A
Quote:
• Do not use the word should in command subjunctive constructions.
→ A command already implies a should.
→ In British English, should is allowed. Not so in the U.S.. Not so on the GMAT.
ELIMINATE B
Quote:
• verb error
→ the infinitive (to be), like the indicative, is not allowed in the command subjunctive construction.
• idiom error - insist on must be paired with a gerund (a verbING)
→ Correct: After he accidentally spilled coffee, the apologetic waiter insisted on paying for the woman's jacket to be dry-cleaned.
ELIMINATE C
Quote:
• correct
• This option follows the correct structure, namely
insist + that + unnecessary spending + (bare infinitive) be curtailed
KEEP
Quote:
• verb error
→ we should use be rather than is
→ does not follow the command subjunctive's correct construction
• insist on should be followed by gerund (a verbING) ("spending" is not the right gerund here)
Correct: City officials have begun to insist on mask wearing in grocery stores.
ELIMINATE E
The correct answer is D.
• Takeaways
1) Use
insist + ON + gerund (verbing)
or
2) Use
insist + that + noun/subject + bare infinitive
When #2 is used, in U.S. English and on the GMAT, should must never be a part of the construction.
A command already implies "should."
When #2 is used, employ only the bare infinitive.
→ any other verb tense or verb phrase is incorrect
COMMENTS
Jaidude , welcome to SC Butler. (If I've welcomed you before—well, then you get two welcomes.)
Jaidude and siddharthkapoor , I am bumping you both to Best Community Reply, in no particular order.
Keep up the good work, everyone.
And stay safe.
siddharthkapoor
GMAT Club Reviews PM Intern
Joined: 10 Apr 2018
Last visit: 12 Sep 2025
Posts: 527
Given Kudos: 522
Location: India
Schools: ISB'22 (D)
GMAT 1: 680 Q48 V34
GPA: 3.3
Products:
13 Oct 2021, 02:02
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Quote:
The command word 'insist' requires a subjunctive verb, which is always in a plural form and is preceded by 'that <subject>'. Subject in this case is 'spending'. Thus, options C and E are out.
Also, subjunctive form of verb 'be' is always 'be'. Other forms of verb 'be' such as 'is/am/are' in present tense are not allowed to be used as subjunctive verbs. So, option A is also out.
Lastly, the use of word 'should' before the subjunctive verb is incorrect. Therefore, option B is out, leaving option D as the correct answer choice.
