Be + past simple verb

Question

I was watching a video and I heard the narrator said: “She had requested his brain be studied”

And I thought it was wrong, but some grammar correctors, like Grammarly, show that this is correct, my question is: Why is that correct? I think it should be something like: “She had requested his brain to be studied” because request is a verb that needs an infinitive after an object, but then I thought it could be some use of the passive voice or something like that, but I couldn't find any answer.

It would be wonderful if someone can explain it to me. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

It is a subjunctive mood. The base form of a verb is used in the subjunctive mood. 'Be' is appropriate here.

Active: She requests that they study his brain. She requested that they should study his brain. She requested that they study his brain. She had requested that they study his brain.

Passive: He requests that his brain be studied. He requested that his brain be studied. He requested that his brain should be studied. He had requested that his brain be studied.

[ Active: They study his brain. Passive: His brain is studied (by them).

Active: They should study his brain. Passive: His brain should be studied (by them)

Active: They studied his brain. Passive: His brain was studied (by them). ]

Answer 2

It isn't "be + past simple". It is "be + past participle" and forms the passive voice.

In this case, it is also a subjunctive. The verb "request" licences a subjunctive complement. The subjunctive is identical in form to a bare infinitive.