What mood is demonstrated in the sentence "I insist that he go to the ball game"?

Enhance your skills for the TSA Writing Skills Assessment. Study with engaging materials, explore multiple choice questions with in-depth explanations, and prepare effectively for the exam!

The sentence "I insist that he go to the ball game" demonstrates the subjunctive mood. This mood is used to express wishes, demands, or suggestions that are not necessarily factual or that indicate some degree of uncertainty. In this instance, the speaker is expressing a strong preference or requirement for someone else to attend the game, which falls under the category of a demand or insistence.

In English, the subjunctive mood is often recognized by its unique verb forms, particularly in that it uses the base form of the verb following verbs of suggesting, demanding, or urging. Here, "go" is the base form of the verb, indicating that the action is desired rather than being a statement of fact or a direct command. This illustrates the nuance of the subjunctive mood where the speaker desires an action to be taken rather than stating something that is simply true or issuing a command.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy