Verb + that-clause – I think it’s beautiful
Facts, beliefs, doubts, perceptions – I believe you are right
These meanings are expressed by a that-clause containing an indicative. This represents an indirect statement and follows verbs of certain types:
• Verbs of cognition – knowing, doubting, perceiving – such as think, know, believe, imagine, see, doubt; with doubt, don’t know, the subordinator is if or whether.
We know that you have lived abroad for some time.
He could see that she was not at all happy.
I doubt/I don’t know if/whether we’ll get there before dark.
• Verbs of expectation – expect, hope, suppose and wish – which refer to potential situations rather than facts, frequently take a modal auxiliary in the indicative that- clause.
I expect (that) you would like something to drink after your journey.
I suppose (that) he must have lost his way.
Reports – Jo says she is ill
Reports encode things that people have said. They are introduced by verbs of communicating, such as say, announce, answer, explain, mean, mention, report, and performatives such as admit and confess.
The Minister answered that he didn’t know.
You never mentioned that you were married.
Proposals – The party suggests he call/should call an election
Verbs such as propose, suggest, recommend and demand aim at getting someone to do something. The meaning in the complement clause is therefore potential, for which many European languages require a subjunctive. English has traditionally two possibilities: an uninflected subjunctive (e.g. be), common in AmE, or should + infinitive, common in BrE. Both are illustrated in 1 and 2, below. The same choices are open before an it + adj construction. Illustrated here is a formal use:
It is right that this House debate this issue and pass judgement. (PM Tony Blair in the House of Commons, 18 March 2003)
A third choice, adopted by some speakers, is the indicative, as illustrated in a news report 3:
1 He demands that she pay/should pay him back.
2 The chairman proposed that a vote be taken/ should be taken.
3 They demand that he apologizes to the Iraqi people.
