Texas Court Reporter Practice Exam

In the context of punctuality, my boss demands that everyone (is, be) on time.

1. Is

2. Be

3. Should

4. Was

The correct answer is: Be

The correct choice in this case is "be." In this sentence, the phrase "my boss demands that everyone" introduces a subjunctive mood construction, which is used to express a demand, suggestion, or requirement. The subjunctive form of the verb for "to be" in this context is "be," regardless of the subject. The subjunctive mood often appears in clauses that follow verbs of suggestion, demand, or necessity, such as "demand." Therefore, when using "demand," the form that follows is "that everyone be on time," which maintains the proper grammatical structure. In contrast, choosing "is," "should," or "was" would not conform to the subjunctive mood required in this context: "is" places the statement in the indicative mood, which does not fit the necessity conveyed by "demands"; "should" indicates a recommendation rather than a requirement; and "was" places the action in the past, which is not relevant here. Thus, "be" is the appropriate choice for maintaining the correct grammatical structure while conveying the necessary meaning of punctuality as demanded by the boss.