pray that + simple present

[ibrahim ali]

Hi everybody, would you please tell me that, do we use simple present tense after saying "pray that" as it is being used in this sentence "You better pray that I never find you".



Thank you!

 

[perpend]

Yes.

I'd prefer: You had better pray ...

 

[Ali Smith]

Hi everybody, would you please tell me that, do we use simple present tense after saying "pray that" as it is being used in this sentence "You better pray that I never find you".



Thank you!

Actually, it is followed by the subjunctive. It's just that in this sentence the subjunctive and the simply present tense sound the same. However, they diverge in sentences like "Pray that it happen soon.", where "happen" cannot be anything but the subjunctive.

 

[Forero]

Actually, it is followed by the subjunctive. It's just that in this sentence the subjunctive and the simply present tense sound the same. However, they diverge in sentences like "Pray that it happen soon.", where "happen" cannot be anything but the subjunctive.

This is not true for AmE or BrE, is it? We say "Pray it happens soon" just as we say "I hope it happens soon."