It's the subjunctive, used here in a case of necessity. It is important that you be at the hospital one hour before your scheduled surgery. The professor demanded that the reports be in his hands by Friday.

The wine cup is the little silver well where truth, if truth there be , doth dwell . Get a man drunk if you want to know what he's really like. Shakespeare is picturing wine being served in a silver cup. well is metaphoric for anything deep

weren't subjunctive in contrary to fact

Dear friend, normally, the subjunctive were follows as if/as though : He spoke as if she were dead. However, the ordinary present tense is required where the emphasis is on truth rather than falsity : It's not as if he' s dishonest (= he

I wish there were someone who knows what I mean when.. Actually, if I were you, I think I'd be just as concerned about the form of the other verbs in the sentence. I'd make them subjunctive as well. I would write the sentence this way: -

I see no real difference, as is often the case with these two verbs. I do notice that the subjunctive would be better than either: I pray that God give you....

Are those correct? Yes. Is it called "subjunctive"? Yes. Do we use only with some expressions and verbs? Yes. Can I say: She does not insist that he talk to her boss. Yes. CJ

It is recommended that she talk to her boss. The police officer demands that he open his suitcase. Are those correct? Is it called "subjunctive"? In what situation do we use it? Do we use only with some expressions and verbs

I will. But as of now, both your answers make sense. =)

I would agree with you, if not for the fact that I remembered Fowler saying something to the contrary. But that was quite long ago, so I cannot quite recall where I saw it. I believe he used an example that was similar, if not the same, as mine.