Q: Is the correct choice in this question correct?

[jadugar]

At a recent session, the French government has decided that Paris needs a second, larger opera house to complement the famous Paris Opera.

A. has decided that Paris needs

B. decided that Paris needs

C. has decided that Paris will need

D. decided that Paris has a need of

E. has decided that Paris needed


This question uses subjunctive mood. As per subjunctive mood, we should always use the base form of the verb in such a subjunctive construction involving that clause. I feel the word "needs" in option B should change to "need"

What do you suggest?

[ontheway]

I agree with you.

[anilmanu]

B is the best of the available options

[ubermenschD5]

B is appropriate. Jadugar,There is no need to eliminate 's' from 'needs'..The option is correct as IS.
See below :-
Paris needs a larger opera house.
People of Paris need a larger opera house.

[DinoGane]

A + C + E = "has" implies ongoing (Present Perfect), so should be simple past tense form of verb, i.e. just "decided".

D = "has a need of" is wordy comparative to "needs"

So B.

...

I've been having a think about your question. I think an entirely past tense sentence would be:
... the French government decided that Paris needed a ...
but because it is subjunctive, the base form for the singular 'Paris' is used:
... the French government decided that Paris needs a ...
and the plural version of the base form might be:
... the French government decided that the Parisians need a ...

What do you think?

[ontheway]

Jadugar's question is still open. He did not ask why B is the right answer but why B does not have "need" instead of "needs" because the whole sentence is in subjunctive mood that implies use of "need" instead of "needs".

Any takers?

[dynamicdhiraj]

The word 'Paris' is a singular noun and hence uses the verb 'needs' and not 'need' .Option B is correct .

[jadugar]

The word 'Paris' is a singular noun and hence uses the verb 'needs' and not 'need' .Option B is correct .

This looks like a best option among all the options but does not sound right to me. If you read about subjunctive mood it says that we should always use the base form of the verb in a subjunctive construction involving "that" clause.

For example:
Incorrect sentence:
Teacher recommended that Mary reads the book.

Correct sentence:
Teacher recommended that Mary read the book.

We removed s from "reads" to correct it. Base form of read is "to read", remove to from it and you get the form that should be used in the subjunctive mood sentence.

[piju]

Identify a 'that' is not enough. For the subjunctive mood, subjunctive verbs should express desire or command of doing something. Some typical verbs are suggest, recommend, order, etc.
I think the verb 'decide' is not in that list.

At a recent session, the French government decided that Paris needs a second, larger opera house to complement the famous Paris Opera.

[gmat0007]

i go for B