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I know that each is a singular subject, but in certain cases it seems that is not the case. For example, in this sentence below, why would the correct verb be "keep" instead of "keeps?"

The tour guide recommends that each child keep close to his or her parents in order to avoid leaving someone behind.

F.E.
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James
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2 Answers2

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  • The tour guide recommends that each child keep close to his or her parents in order to avoid leaving someone behind.

Your example is in the form of a subjunctive mandative construction, which is seen in the use of "keep".

The example could, instead, use "keeps" or use "should keep", in which case the constructions would be covert-mandative and should-mandative, respectively.

For instance: the subjunctive mandative,

  • The tour guide recommends [that each child keep close to his or her parents in order to avoid leaving someone behind].

the should-mandative,

  • The tour guide recommends [that each child should keep close to his or her parents in order to avoid leaving someone behind].

the covert-mandative,

  • The tour guide recommends [that each child keeps close to his or her parents in order to avoid leaving someone behind].

Many times, for some speakers, there are differences in preference as to type of construction.

Mandatives involve deontic modality, so those three types of mandative basically mean the same thing. But there can often be examples which could be ambiguous as to whether it is a mandative or a non-mandative, and thus, ambiguity in the meaning. For instance, the following example (borrowed from CGEL, page 996),

  • [8.iii] She insists [that he takes / they take the eight o'clock train].

The version using "he takes" could be a covert-mandative, and the version using "they take" could be a covert or a subjunctive mandative; but both versions could also be non-mandatives. In the mandative interpretations: she insists on his (them) taking this train. In the non-mandative interpretations: she asserts that it is a fact that he (they) is scheduled to take this train.

(Reference: The 2002 reference grammar by Huddleston and Pullum et al., The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, "7.1.1. The mandative construction", pages 995-1000.)

F.E.
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6

The issue in your example is not with each, but with the verb recommend. This keep is in the present subjunctive, which can be used after a main verb that expresses a command or recommendation (though not after all such main verbs):

She suggested that he stay away from the palace.

They recommend that the mayor should step down.

You can use either should or the present subjunctive. Some people also (sometimes) use the simple indicative (keeps, stays, steps), but this is considered ugly or illiterate by others.

Community
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Cerberus - Reinstate Monica
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  • With some main verbs "that express a command or recommendation". Not with most. *She said/remarked/appealed/piped up/snapped that he stay away from the palace. That's the problem with semantic definitions for syntactic phenomena; the clear cases work nicely but not in general. – John Lawler Jan 09 '14 at 21:32
  • @JohnLawler: I meant "can" in the broadest sense. But, fair enough, I have added extra hedging. – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jan 09 '14 at 21:55
  • This is where lists come in handy, like the lists of communication verbs from Levin 1993 – John Lawler Jan 09 '14 at 22:50
  • A verb that licenses the subjunctive is one that cannot accept a clause complement that expresses a fact. He demanded he was hungry. She urged the dancers were wearing suspenders. It is not what these verbs do but what they cannot do that defines them. – TimR Jun 28 '23 at 14:07
  • @Tim: Good point. It can be difficult, though, to decide when it is a fact? E.g. she recommended that the dancers wear suspenders. – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jun 28 '23 at 21:18
  • @Cerberus-ReinstateMonica: As long as the clause-complement can be construed as counterfactual, you're in the clear. She recommended that he was hungry. The sergeant recommended that the corporal who volunteered for the mission keep frosty. UK practice is another animal, however. Some British speakers would say kept* there. – TimR Jun 29 '23 at 12:05
  • @Tim: I would use should, the subjunctive feels a bit American to me. – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jun 29 '23 at 12:09
  • Most Americans would say should keep there. I think the subjunctive is preferred mainly by Americans who have had their nose in a lot of books. – TimR Jun 29 '23 at 12:27
  • @Tim: Haha OK. I wonder why it is (almost) only Americans who use the subjective here, though. – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jun 29 '23 at 21:23
  • The Brits used to butter their scones with the mandative subjunctive. I don't know how it ever went by the wayside. – TimR Jun 29 '23 at 21:33
  • For further reading: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/151539/1/Hundt2018_GlobalTrip_Subjunctives.pdf – TimR Jun 30 '23 at 01:38
  • @Tim: Ah, that could be an interesting article. I generally like the subjunctive, though. – Cerberus - Reinstate Monica Jun 30 '23 at 02:28