C2 · 숙달 챕터 6

Professional and Formal Nuance

4 총 규칙
47 예문
6 분
이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the sophisticated syntax that defines the most articulate speakers in professional English.

  • Employ the mandative subjunctive to issue formal mandates.
  • Integrate high-level pivots to navigate complex, contrasting arguments.
  • Construct elegant, concise clauses that streamline your professional communication.
Refine your voice for the boardroom and beyond.

배울 내용

Ready to elevate your English to a truly professional level? This chapter empowers you to express complex ideas with elegant precision, mastering sophisticated structures like

Be That As It May
and the powerful mandative subjunctive. You'll soon sound impeccably articulate in any formal setting.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: confidently employ the mandative subjunctive in formal written reports.

챕터 가이드

Overview

Congratulations on reaching the C2 level in English! You're now poised to unlock the highest echelons of linguistic sophistication. This chapter isn't just about avoiding errors; it's about mastering English professional and formal nuance, allowing you to express complex ideas with elegant precision and authority.
We'll delve into structures that distinguish true mastery from mere fluency, enabling you to command respect and clarity in any high-stakes interaction.
As a C2 English speaker, you're ready to move beyond simply being understood to being profoundly articulate. This guide will introduce you to powerful tools like the mandative subjunctive, refined formal pivots such as
Be That As It May,
concise verbless clauses, and descriptive absolute constructions. By integrating these advanced grammar points, you'll not only enhance your written and spoken communication but also project an image of impeccable professionalism.
Get ready to elevate your English to a truly expert level.

How This Grammar Works

At C2, the goal is to refine your expression, making it more precise, concise, and appropriately formal. The grammar points in this chapter work together to achieve this, offering alternatives to more common, less impactful phrasing.
First, the mandative subjunctive empowers you to express demands, recommendations, or necessities with a distinctly formal and authoritative tone. Unlike the more common 'should' or indicative forms, it uses the base form of the verb, often after expressions of requirement or suggestion. For example, instead of
I suggest that he *should be* informed,
a professional would say,
I suggest that he be informed.
This subtle shift immediately elevates the formality, making your directives clear and unambiguous in contexts like legal documents, formal reports, or high-level discussions.
Next, formal pivots like
Be That As It May
are indispensable for diplomatic, yet firm, communication. These are essentially 'frozen' subjunctive phrases that allow you to acknowledge a preceding point or fact formally before introducing a counter-argument or a different perspective without sounding confrontational. For instance, in a negotiation, you might say,
Be that as it may, our primary concern remains the long-term sustainability of the project.
This structure lends gravitas and intellectual fairness to your argument, showing you've considered the other side.
Then we have verbless clauses, which are champions of conciseness and sophistication. By omitting redundant subjects and 'be' verbs after conjunctions like 'if,' 'though,' 'when,' or 'while,' you create punchy, efficient sentences. Instead of
If it is possible, please submit the report,
you can say,
If possible, please submit the report.
Or,
Although *she was* tired, she continued her work
becomes
Although tired, she continued her work.
This streamlines your prose, making it more elegant and professional, especially in written communication where brevity is valued.
Finally, absolute constructions provide a powerful way to add descriptive depth and contextual information to your sentences. They consist of a noun or pronoun followed by a participle (or sometimes an adjective/prepositional phrase), acting as an independent grammatical unit that explains a circumstance or cause for the main clause. For example, instead of
The weather was fine, so we decided to go for a walk,
you can write,
The weather being fine, we decided to go for a walk.
Or, "Her presentation completed, the committee moved to Q&A." This structure allows you to present background information smoothly, enriching your narrative without interrupting the flow of your main statement, showcasing a truly advanced command of sentence structure.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: The committee recommends that she *reviews* the proposal.
✓ Correct: The committee recommends that she review the proposal.
*Explanation:* The mandative subjunctive requires the base form of the verb (review), not the third-person singular present tense, after verbs like 'recommend,' 'suggest,' 'insist.'
  1. 1✗ Wrong: The project failed, though *it was* a good idea.
✓ Correct: The project failed, though a good idea.
*Explanation:* To form a verbless clause, you omit the redundant subject and 'be' verb (it was) after the subordinator (though), achieving conciseness.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: We began the meeting, *the agenda having distributed* beforehand.
✓ Correct: We began the meeting, the agenda having been distributed beforehand.
*Explanation:* Absolute constructions require careful attention to the participle form. Here, 'the agenda' is the recipient of the action, so a perfect passive participle ('having been distributed') is needed to accurately convey the sequence and passive voice.

Real Conversations

A

A

The board insists that all new hires be trained by senior staff within their first month.
B

B

Yes, I agree that it’s crucial for integration. Be that as it may, we also need to consider the current workload of our senior team.
A

A

I’ve just finished drafting the report. If approved, we can send it out by end of day.
B

B

Excellent. The data collected, we're in a strong position to present our findings.
A

A

Management requires that every department head attend the quarterly review.
B

B

Understood. Though slightly inconvenient for some schedules, the importance of these reviews cannot be overstated.

Quick FAQ

Q

When should I use the mandative subjunctive in C2 English?

You should use the mandative subjunctive in formal contexts, especially after verbs like 'suggest,' 'recommend,' 'insist,' 'demand,' or 'propose,' to express a requirement or necessity. It’s common in official reports, legal language, and formal recommendations.

Q

Are formal pivots like

Be that as it may
still common in business communication?

Absolutely. Phrases like

Be that as it may
are excellent for acknowledging a point gracefully before introducing a contrasting view, maintaining professionalism and courtesy in negotiations or disagreements, particularly in written communication or high-level meetings.

Q

Can verbless clauses make my writing sound unnatural or too abrupt?

Not if used correctly. Verbless clauses are a mark of sophisticated, concise writing. Overuse or incorrect placement might make prose feel choppy, but when used appropriately, they enhance elegance and efficiency, especially after common subordinators.

Q

What's the main difference between an absolute construction and a dependent clause?

An absolute construction has its own subject and acts independently, modifying the entire main clause by providing context (cause, time, condition). A dependent clause, however, usually has a conjunction and relies on the main clause for its meaning, often functioning as an adverb, adjective, or noun.

Cultural Context

These advanced structures are hallmarks of highly educated or professional discourse in English. While the mandative subjunctive is more common in American English formal writing, it's understood and used for emphasis across all English varieties. Formal pivots and absolute constructions lend a sophisticated, sometimes academic, tone.
Verbless clauses are widely used for conciseness in both written and spoken formal English. Using these patterns signals mastery and respect for the gravity of the communication, though they might sound overly formal in casual, everyday conversation.

주요 예문 (2)

1

`The meeting concluded,` everyone dispersed to their offices.

회의가 마무리되자, 모두 각자의 사무실로 흩어졌어요.

절대 구문 (날씨가 좋아서...)
2

`His phone vibrating incessantly,` he struggled to focus on the lecture.

폰이 끊임없이 진동하는 바람에, 그는 강의에 집중하기 힘들었죠.

절대 구문 (날씨가 좋아서...)

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

'BE' 소리에 귀를 기울이세요

평소라면 is, are가 올 자리에 갑자기 'be'가 들린다면? 십중팔구 가정법 현재가 쓰인 거예요! 격식 있는 연설에서 자주 들리죠.
It is important that he be here.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 명령형 가정법: 전문가처럼 들리게 (나는 그가 있어야 한다고 주장한다...)
💡

다양한 전환어 활용하기

'Be that as it may'만 고집하지 마세요. 'Having said that', 'Notwithstanding', 'Granted' 등을 섞어 쓰면 훨씬 역동적이고 세련된 문장이 됩니다.
Your audience will appreciate the linguistic flair!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 격식 있는 전환: '그렇다 하더라도' 외
💡

주어 일치 확인은 필수!

Verbless clause의 생략된 주어가 주절의 주어와 같은지 꼭 확인해야 해. 그래야 'dangling modifier' 같은 혼란을 피할 수 있어.
Although tired, the runner finally reached the finish line.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 동사 없는 절 (가능하다면, 피곤하더라도)
🎯

'미니 문장'이라고 생각하세요

독립분사구문은 주절과는 별개의 주어를 가진 아주 짧은 문장과 같아요. 문장에 풍부한 디테일을 더해준답니다:
The clock ticking, she wrote.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 절대 구문 (날씨가 좋아서...)

핵심 어휘 (5)

Mandate an official order or commission Concession admitting that something is true Elliptical characterized by omission Absolute independent or unconditional Articulate having the ability to speak fluently

Real-World Preview

briefcase

Executive Boardroom Debate

Review Summary

  • Verb + that + subject + base verb
  • Be that as it may, [clause]
  • Conjunction + Adjective/Participle
  • Noun + Participle, [clause]

자주 하는 실수

The mandative subjunctive requires the base form, not the third-person singular.

Wrong: I insist he goes to the meeting.
정답: I insist he go to the meeting.

While grammatically acceptable, 'Although tired' is more sophisticated in professional contexts.

Wrong: Although he was tired, he worked.
정답: Although tired, he worked.

This creates a comma splice; the absolute construction fixes the link.

Wrong: The weather was fine, we went out.
정답: The weather being fine, we went out.

Next Steps

Congratulations on completing Level C2! You now possess the linguistic tools to navigate any professional environment with authority and grace.

Read an editorial in The Economist or Financial Times

빠른 연습 (10)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 수정하세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

It is essential that she finishes the report before the meeting.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is essential that she finish the report before the meeting.
'It is essential that' 뒤의 동사는 3인칭 단수형(finishes)이 아닌 원형(finish)이어야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 명령형 가정법: 전문가처럼 들리게 (나는 그가 있어야 한다고 주장한다...)

문맥에 맞는 가장 적절한 표현을 고르세요.

The report highlighted several challenges; ___, the team achieved significant milestones.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Having said that
'Having said that'은 앞선 정보를 인정하고 대조되는 성과를 소개할 때 흐름상 가장 자연스럽습니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 격식 있는 전환: '그렇다 하더라도' 외

어떤 문장이 verbless clause를 올바르게 사용했는지 선택하세요.

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: While walking to the park, I saw a dog barking loudly.
올바른 문장에서는 'I'가 걷고 있는 주체이므로, 'While walking'의 생략된 주어와 일치합니다. 다른 옵션들은 dangling modifier를 가지고 있습니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 동사 없는 절 (가능하다면, 피곤하더라도)

가정법 현재를 올바르게 사용한 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They demand that he show his ID.
'demand that' 뒤의 동사 'show'는 원형인 'show'를 유지해야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 명령형 가정법: 전문가처럼 들리게 (나는 그가 있어야 한다고 주장한다...)

문장에서 실수를 찾아 수정하세요.

Although tired, the coffee helped me stay awake.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Although tired, I stayed awake with the coffee.
원래 문장은 dangling modifier가 있었습니다. 'Tired'는 'the coffee'가 아니라 주절의 주어인 'I'를 수식해야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 동사 없는 절 (가능하다면, 피곤하더라도)

문장을 완성하기 위해 알맞은 동사 형태를 고르세요.

The board requested that the budget ___ approved by next week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: be
'requested that' 뒤에 오는 'to be' 동사는 가정법 현재에 따라 원형인 'be'가 되어야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 명령형 가정법: 전문가처럼 들리게 (나는 그가 있어야 한다고 주장한다...)

격식 있는 전환어가 올바르게 사용된 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Granted, it's expensive, the quality is unmatched.
'Granted'는 문장 시작점에서 쉼표와 함께 쓰여 양보의 의미를 나타내는 것이 가장 일반적입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 격식 있는 전환: '그렇다 하더라도' 외

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 올바르게 고쳐보세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

`Looking exhausted,` the meeting finally ended.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: `The attendees looking exhausted,` the meeting finally ended.
원래 문장은 '회의'가 지쳐 보인다는 뜻이 되어버려요. '참석자들'이라는 주어를 명시해줘야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 절대 구문 (날씨가 좋아서...)

독립분사구문을 완성하기 위해 알맞은 형태를 고르세요.

`___ finished,` the students handed in their exams.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Their work
주절의 주어(students)와 다른 'Their work'가 주어로 오고 과거분사 'finished'가 결합되어야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 절대 구문 (날씨가 좋아서...)

문장에서 잘못된 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

The project was difficult. Albeit, we finished on time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The project was difficult, albeit finished on time.
'Albeit'은 단독으로 문장을 시작하는 접속부사가 아니라, 주로 구를 연결하는 접속사로 쓰입니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 격식 있는 전환: '그렇다 하더라도' 외

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

요구, 제안, 권고, 필요성을 나타낼 때 쓰는 문법적 양태예요. 주어와 상관없이 that절 안에 동사 원형을 쓰는 게 특징이죠. 예를 들어
I insist he *go*
처럼요.
'Mandate(명령, 권한)'라는 단어에서 왔어요. 주절이 명령이나 제안을 담고 있을 때 사용하기 때문이죠.
The rule mandates that you *follow* protocol
처럼 사용됩니다.
이전 진술의 타당성을 인정하면서 즉시 반대 의견을 낼 때 써요. 아주 정중한 'however'라고 생각하면 쉬워요.
Be that as it may, we must proceed.
'Having said that'은 훨씬 격식 있고 세련된 느낌을 줘요. 'but'이 너무 직설적으로 들릴 수 있는 전문적인 상황에서 사용하세요. "It's true; having said that, consider this."
보통 접속사로 시작하는 종속절인데, 간결함을 위해 주어와 'to be' 동사 형태가 생략된 거야. 예를 들어, If possible이 바로 verbless clause야.
글이나 말하기를 더 격식 있고, 우아하며, 효율적으로 만들기 위해서지. 복잡한 아이디어를 장황하지 않게 표현하는 C2 수준의 방법이야. 예를 들어 Although challenging, we succeeded.`처럼 말이야.
이전 챕터
Rhetorical Style and Emphasis
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