What is the construction be + verb (perfect form)? I have come across it multiple times in legalese. For instance:
to ensure that every person be granted adequate assistance
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Sign up to join this communityWhat is the construction be + verb (perfect form)? I have come across it multiple times in legalese. For instance:
to ensure that every person be granted adequate assistance
"be" in "be granted" in your sentence is present tense subjunctive of the verb to be.
In English this subjunctive form looks like an infinitive and that's why it is often seen as an infinitive.
Only if you have a look at other languages you see that the subjunctive forms are different from indicative forms:
Latin est x sit*
German ist x sei*
French est x soit*
English is x be*
Unfortunately in English the subjunctive form and the infinitive have got the same form in the course of centuries, so that a real feeling for the subjunctive form be* is hardly possible.
This present subjunctive is usual in American English after verbs such as to demand:
For more information you have to use a grammar.