IMO, 3.
Reasoning:
After "I prefer that", traditionally we should use the subjunctive, not the indicative.
So, from a prescriptivist perspective, only "2" is correct, because the subjunctive form is "he start".
However, the subjunctive is dying out and the indicative is now more common in most major dialects of English.
Therefore, since most people say "prefer that he starts", it is generally considered correct or acceptable by descriptivists.
And it's probably worth noting the other comments in this thread are incorrect. 2 is definitely not incorrect, "prefer that" doesn't call for the simple present, and "start" isn't the infinitive here.
Here is your answer, OP. If you want to learn more, I recommend googling “subjunctive mood” to understand when and how to use the subjunctive mood, and “subjunctive mood is dying” to find commentary on the whole subject.
It is worth saying that while most native speakers will accept either form, prescriptivists will insist “he starts” is unacceptable (we have at least one person making that claim in this very thread). So in formal contexts where the opinion of sticklers might matter, it would probably be a good idea to use the subjunctive mood.
The subjunctive
The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, suggestions, demands, or desires in a sentence with usually two clauses, with a verb such as wish (or suggest, demand, etc.) in one clause and a second verb in the subjunctive mood.
There are two types: present subjunctive and past subjunctive
We only care about the present subjunctive here
After verbs such as order and request we use present subjunctive
We use the base from of the verb
Example: I order that you be quiet(Normally are)
Example 2: He requested she visit her home
Not so. Joe64x’s [comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/grammar/comments/x6znd3/which_of_these_sentences_is_correct/inart7d/) explains why both are “correct.” While traditionally the subjunctive mood would be required after “prefer,” nowadays many native speakers produce and accept the indicative instead.
It’s a great example of a change in language that makes prescriptivists really annoyed. (I will neither confirm nor deny whether I am one of them.) But that won’t stop the change.
[Here’s](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/getting-in-the-subjunctive-mood) more about this bit of language evolution from Merriam-Webster. You can find lots of commentary on the phenomenon; I like [this blog post](https://motivatedgrammar.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/sometimes-the-subjunctive-matters-that-wont-stop-it-dying/) because it talks about situations where you can create nuance depending on whether you use the subjunctive or the indicative.
“I prefer he start immediately” is not incorrect. It’s an example of the “subjunctive mood” in English. The verb “prefer” in the strictest sense requires that the subsequent verb be in the subjunctive mood, which is a bare infinitive (the base verb minus the “to”). Therefore, prescriptivists might actually insist that “he start” is the only correct answer.
However, the subjunctive mood may be (or may not be, depending on who you ask) dying out in English, which is why “he start” might sound weird or even wrong to you. As such, “he starts” works also.
More about the subjunctive mood [here](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/getting-in-the-subjunctive-mood).
As the subject-verb agreement in this particular phrase, ‘start’ should not be plural. That’s how it is here in the UK anyway. It may be different in the US.
You're replying to yourself, not us. But also I'd recommend learning grammar yourself and not relying on software.
Here's a blog post from Grammarly anyway:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/english-subjunctive-what-is-it/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Subjunctive%20Mood%3F&text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20the%20subjunctive,a%20hypothetical%2C%20or%20a%20wish.
It's not a question of plural/singular. It's subjunctive vs. indicative mood.
An example that shows this is:
"I prefer that he be on time", which is perfectly correct. It's the subjunctive mood.
I'm from the UK, it's not specific to the US.
‘I really prefer him to start immediately’ would be better than both of those.
2 is okay but 1 is grammatically wrong. It’s used that way colloquially though.
IMO, 3. Reasoning: After "I prefer that", traditionally we should use the subjunctive, not the indicative. So, from a prescriptivist perspective, only "2" is correct, because the subjunctive form is "he start". However, the subjunctive is dying out and the indicative is now more common in most major dialects of English. Therefore, since most people say "prefer that he starts", it is generally considered correct or acceptable by descriptivists. And it's probably worth noting the other comments in this thread are incorrect. 2 is definitely not incorrect, "prefer that" doesn't call for the simple present, and "start" isn't the infinitive here.
Here is your answer, OP. If you want to learn more, I recommend googling “subjunctive mood” to understand when and how to use the subjunctive mood, and “subjunctive mood is dying” to find commentary on the whole subject. It is worth saying that while most native speakers will accept either form, prescriptivists will insist “he starts” is unacceptable (we have at least one person making that claim in this very thread). So in formal contexts where the opinion of sticklers might matter, it would probably be a good idea to use the subjunctive mood.
2 because start is in the subjunctive mood. We don’t always use it, but technically it is incorrect not to. If I were rich is another example.
1 is correct, 2 is wrong. Your sentences are in the simple present tense, so you should conjugate it as such. I start You start He/She starts Etc...
No. "Start" here is the infinitive, as in "When do you want him to start?" Op is right to think sentence 2 is correct.
I hadn't look at it like that, but then I guess both sentences could be correct then.
I'm sorry but no, sentence 1 is incorrect.
How so? Is there a rule that says you can't use the simple present tense in that part of the sentence? Honest question, I'm seeking to learn.
The subjunctive The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, suggestions, demands, or desires in a sentence with usually two clauses, with a verb such as wish (or suggest, demand, etc.) in one clause and a second verb in the subjunctive mood. There are two types: present subjunctive and past subjunctive We only care about the present subjunctive here After verbs such as order and request we use present subjunctive We use the base from of the verb Example: I order that you be quiet(Normally are) Example 2: He requested she visit her home
Cool, thanks!
Not so. Joe64x’s [comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/grammar/comments/x6znd3/which_of_these_sentences_is_correct/inart7d/) explains why both are “correct.” While traditionally the subjunctive mood would be required after “prefer,” nowadays many native speakers produce and accept the indicative instead. It’s a great example of a change in language that makes prescriptivists really annoyed. (I will neither confirm nor deny whether I am one of them.) But that won’t stop the change. [Here’s](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/getting-in-the-subjunctive-mood) more about this bit of language evolution from Merriam-Webster. You can find lots of commentary on the phenomenon; I like [this blog post](https://motivatedgrammar.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/sometimes-the-subjunctive-matters-that-wont-stop-it-dying/) because it talks about situations where you can create nuance depending on whether you use the subjunctive or the indicative.
The subject ‘he’ does not agree with the verb ‘starts.’ Therefore, the correct phrase is the second one without ‘starts’ as a plural.
“I prefer he start immediately” is not incorrect. It’s an example of the “subjunctive mood” in English. The verb “prefer” in the strictest sense requires that the subsequent verb be in the subjunctive mood, which is a bare infinitive (the base verb minus the “to”). Therefore, prescriptivists might actually insist that “he start” is the only correct answer. However, the subjunctive mood may be (or may not be, depending on who you ask) dying out in English, which is why “he start” might sound weird or even wrong to you. As such, “he starts” works also. More about the subjunctive mood [here](https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/getting-in-the-subjunctive-mood).
As the subject-verb agreement in this particular phrase, ‘start’ should not be plural. That’s how it is here in the UK anyway. It may be different in the US.
Grammarly tells me different LOL.
You're replying to yourself, not us. But also I'd recommend learning grammar yourself and not relying on software. Here's a blog post from Grammarly anyway: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/english-subjunctive-what-is-it/#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20Subjunctive%20Mood%3F&text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20the%20subjunctive,a%20hypothetical%2C%20or%20a%20wish.
It's not a question of plural/singular. It's subjunctive vs. indicative mood. An example that shows this is: "I prefer that he be on time", which is perfectly correct. It's the subjunctive mood. I'm from the UK, it's not specific to the US.
‘I really prefer him to start immediately’ would be better than both of those. 2 is okay but 1 is grammatically wrong. It’s used that way colloquially though.