Question

In which of the sentences is the subjunctive mood correctly used?



Some colleges require that a student do well on the SATs in order to enroll.


Some colleges require that a student does well on the SATs in order to enroll.


Some colleges require a student to do well on the SATs in order to enroll.

Answer 1

Only the first sentence correctly uses the subjunctive:

1. Correct subjunctive: "Some colleges require that a student do well on the SATs in order to enroll."

Explanation:
- After verbs of demand, recommendation, or requirement (require, insist, recommend, suggest), English normally uses the base form (subjunctive) in a "that" clause: "require that [someone] do…"
- Sentence 2 ("require that a student does…") uses the indicative and is not standard in this construction.
- Sentence 3 ("Some colleges require a student to do well…") is also correct, but it uses the infinitive construction ("require someone to do") rather than the subjunctive.

(Stylistic note: many writers prefer the plural "students" or "a student to do well on the SAT" and often just say "the SAT" rather than "the SATs.")