Questions regarding the subjunctive verb mood
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1answer
68 views
Which is correct? If I was or If I were for this particular sentence [duplicate]
Which is correct?
1) If I were a little taller, I would be able to reach the top of the shelf.
2) If I was a little taller, I would be able to reach the top of the shelf.
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3answers
96 views
I'd be honored if it was/were you [duplicate]
I've been reading a lot about the subjunctive mood lately, and everything seems clearer than it did some time ago, but I still have doubts regarding this mood.
The other day I read the following ...
21
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6answers
16k views
When do I use “can” or “could”?
When should I use can? When should I use could?
What is right under what context?
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2answers
124 views
Future Subjunctive
I have a few issues to discuss linked to the Future Subjunctive.
1) Can "If I were you." mean the same as "If I were to be you." In other words, can "If I were you." have the reference to the future ...
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2answers
3k views
“If we were to agree” vs “If we are to agree”
In an undecided situation that needs to be discussed, which one of the following seems more accurate? Are they interchangeable?
If we were to agree on this deal, do you think we can start ...
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0answers
105 views
Why doesn't the singular verb “pass” take an “-es” suffix in this sentence? [duplicate]
As I was studying Peterson’s Master TOEFL Writing Skill, I saw the sentence:
Teamwork requires that a player pass the ball whoever is in the best position to make the goal.
I wonder why pass ...
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2answers
87 views
Can I use the 3rd conditional that way? [closed]
Is the sentence given below grammatically correct?
Had you born two days later and it would have been difficult to celebrate your birthdays.
Is it the only option to use the third conditional to ...
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5answers
794 views
If he is still alive today, he…
Suppose Jeff was born on 1/1/1982. He went missing a long time ago. At the present time, he could be either dead or alive, but nobody knows for sure:
1 "If Jeff is still alive today, he is 30 years ...
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2answers
2k views
Which one is correct: “wish I was here” or “wish I were here”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“If I was” or “If I were”. Which is more common, and which is correct?
Which one is the correct form: "Wish I was here" or "wish I were here"? ...
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2answers
111 views
“Require that every lightbulb have/has”
I have a sentence which reads
Many people require that every lightbulb within a house have/has a switch.
Is it appropriate to use "have" here so as to utilize the subjunctive mode of the verb ...
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3answers
771 views
The third conditional for “if I could”
What is the third conditional for "if I could"? For example, we say:
If I had studied hard, I would have passed the exam. How about this:
If I could study, I would have passed the exam.[Is ...
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1answer
123 views
Do I use “be” or “is” in this sentence? [duplicate]
Which of the following is correct?
I request that my proposal is communicated to the team for necessary action.
I request that my proposal be communicated to the team for necessary action.
...
3
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2answers
395 views
When is “will” used in an “if” clause?
Given the following sentences that use will in the if clause (which is seldom with if-clauses and therefore, I'm not sure they all are even grammatical or not).
If you will/would kindly lend me ...
1
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1answer
206 views
What is the correct way to construct a conditional sentence with “would”?
I was told several times that a conditional sentence with the following structure is incorrect:
If I would do this, then he would do that.
Rather it should be:
If I do this, then he will do ...
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1answer
74 views
A conditional with present tense vs. the subjunctive?
I may just be in my own head, but I'm trying to figure out how these two sentences differ:
If you walk down the street, you'll see an oak tree.
If you were to walk down the street, you'd see ...
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3answers
140 views
Saying about many related events in the future
My question relates to these questions :
Conditionals in the future
Future tense in conditional clauses
“If I go..” vs. “If I will go..” referring to the future
About two mutually related, future ...
3
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4answers
127 views
“factoring” subordinate clauses with verbs that require indicative and subjunctive clauses
For some verbs a subjunctive form is used in the subordinate clause, and I would write
I demand that he read the appendices.
Other verbs demand that you use an indicative form, for example
I ...
2
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2answers
88 views
“It were” versus “were I”: the proper subjunctive for this statement
I wouldn't have been surprised to learn it were already named Lingua Mathematica, and I submit that as the best reason to give it that name (and not some other).
Based on my understanding, I ...
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5answers
2k views
Why have the subjunctive and indicative converged in Modern English?
It is to me a curious fact that the subjunctive mood of verbs in English has so nearly disappeared in modern times. In fact, even the correct form and usage of the subjunctive in Modern English barely ...
1
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1answer
109 views
Is “ask something be done” grammatical? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When should I use the subjunctive mood?
The city council has asked a comprehensive survey be performed in order to determine the measures to lessen the serious ...
1
vote
1answer
139 views
Difference between some sentences involving tense
What is the difference between the two sentences in each of the three cases?
1A. I should like to have sat down.
1B. I should have liked to sit down.
2A. He acts as if he knows the ...
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2answers
169 views
“Something suffices the condition that” vs. “it suffices that something”
In a book I am reading there is a sentence:
Our initial version of Cauchy's theorem begins with the observation that it suffices that f(z) [a function] have a primitive in a region Ω
In ...
4
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1answer
198 views
Trouble with second conditionals (with **could**)
"I would do B if you could do A."
This is a statement which has been bothering me for quite a while. I come across such statements often and, to me, they make no sense. Could is the subjunctive of ...
7
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5answers
521 views
What's the tense for repetitive past action?
In English, "would" usually denotes a conditional voice. "If I were sleepy, I would go to bed."
But I've caught myself using it to denote repetitive or habitual past action. "On Thursdays, we would ...
3
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5answers
154 views
Right tense for conditional event in nondescript time?
What is the right tense to describe an event that might have occured, be occuring or occur in the future, if (not) for something that happened in the past?
Unike, in the examples, which anchor the ...
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6answers
1k views
How to correctly write this conditional phrase?
I’m struggling with a conditional clause. This one is easy:
If I were you, I would do xyz ...
But I have these three statements:
I was a student.
It was my vacation.
My professor ...
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4answers
405 views
What to use for hypothetically completed future actions
I was talking to a friend where I had to make a hypothetical statement about an activity that was completed in the future. So I came up with the following statements.
If he continued college, he ...
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2answers
300 views
Past perfect sentence in “I would have killed the snake if I had hit him…”
Is the following a correct past perfect sentence?
I would have killed the snake if I had hit him hard with a stick.
7
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3answers
738 views
Different conditional clauses — “if you saw”, “if you were to see”, “if you had seen”
Given the following sentences, what is the difference between the conditional clauses in them?
If you saw a lion in a thick forest, what would you do?
If you were to see a lion in a thick ...
2
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3answers
992 views
past perfect + would have + ed-participle / past simple + would + infinitive
Could you clarify difference between sentences:
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses
If I asked people what they wanted, they would say faster horses
...
1
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1answer
326 views
Third conditional would have and would
I read the following on a website and I was wondering if it was okay? Because the books only talk about the standard three forms. What would it mean if we changed the second part of the statement to ...
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4answers
464 views
Tenses for two clauses joined by “if only”
Our school had won the match if only we have concentrated.
Our school would have won the match if only we would have concentrated.
Our school would win the match if only we had concentrated.
...
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3answers
3k views
When should I use the subjunctive mood?
In which cases should I use the subjunctive mood?
I suggest that every applicant fill out the form carefully.
If she were rich, she would live on Long Island.
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3answers
228 views
Use of the subjunctive for verbs other than “to be”?
It is to my understanding that it is grammatically correct to say:
If I be [something], then [something].
because 'were' is the subjunctive of 'to be'. However, is it correct to use the ...
5
votes
3answers
244 views
“Even were he not to…”
I am currently reading "Do androids dream of electric sheep?" by P.K. Dick and I have come across a grammatical structure I don't quite understand. The excerpt is the following (no spoilers, don't ...
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5answers
527 views
Is it correct to say: “I would do something, be it me”?
I mean that "I would do something, if it only were me. But it was not me, so I've done nothing".
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2answers
708 views
Must conditional sentences begin with “if?”
I've been looking at conditional sentences (conditional clauses).
Every example I've see is along the lines of, "if [x] then [y]."
I've seen alternatives/substitutes for the if part:
were I ...
4
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1answer
450 views
Conditional sentences not starting with “if”
Were I rich, I would live on Long Island.
If I were rich, I would live on Long Island.
Is the first sentence still used, or is used in particular contexts (in example, to give emphasis to the ...
6
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3answers
587 views
What tense is “If I were a bird, I could fly”
The sentence is not referring to any time past, present of future. It's just referring to an imaginary condition which has never existed and seemingly will never exist. Still, the sentence and other ...
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3answers
88 views
“Be not” or “is not”?
My point here is trying to explain why the message issued is not correct according to the operations allowed ahead.
However, I'm in doubt about the bold part, is it grammaticaly correct or is there ...
7
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4answers
298 views
Usage of 'had been' or 'were'
I was doing an exercise. I completed the sentence as following.
If you were my child, I would have demanded that such an irresponsible teacher be fired.
But the answer given in the book is ...
1
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4answers
153 views
A prediction made in the past that affects something we will do in the future
Please ignore the factual accuracy of this sentence and focus on the tenses used.
If the Mayans were wrong to end the calendar on Dec. 20, 2012, we'll use your donation to fund 2013 programming.
...
0
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1answer
342 views
“If I was to” vs. “If I were to” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“If I was” or “If I were”. Which is more common, and which is correct?
If I was to sum up my computer knowledge in one word, it would be “destitute”.
If I were ...
2
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4answers
2k views
Usage of the future subjunctive
In the Wikipedia article about the subjunctive mood, I read that the future subjunctive of own for the first person singular is I were to own.
In which situations is the future subjunctive used in ...
3
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4answers
368 views
Past conditional statements
What is the difference between the following two statements?
If I went home for dinner, I took a glass of soft drink.
If I went home for dinner, I would take a glass of soft drink.
Are both ...
1
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1answer
726 views
Past/Present tense in a conditional statement
I'm not an English speaker. Even though I do understand conditional statements that are written by others but when it comes to my turn I still feel confused and don't really know how to organize it.
...
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3answers
490 views
Is there a different grammatical term for “If I was” than for “If I were”?
Many people would say the correct form is "If I were rich ...".
In modern colloquial English though most younger people would say "If I was rich ...".
Prescriptivists might say the latter is "the ...
3
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3answers
3k views
Why is this sentence correct? “She suggested that he go to the cinema.”
Why is this sentence correct?
She suggested that he go to the cinema.
I would definitely use goes instead of go.
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2answers
49 views
Redundancy in subjunctive?
Is there any significant difference between the following sentences?
Were it to be thought tasteless, I wouldn't do it.
Were it thought tasteless, I wouldn't do it.
Is the former implying that ...
7
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3answers
4k views
“It would be better if you drink/drank all the water”
Which one of the following is grammatically correct?
It would be better if you drink all the water.
It would be better if you drank all the water.
The question is, obviously, about the use ...
