All Questions
14 questions
2
votes
2
answers
706
views
Using "would" instead of "would have" with a past perfect subjunctive clause
I came across this youtube video with the following grammar question.
Choose the correct sentence.
a. If you had learned the lyrics, you would be singing in the choir.
b. ...
c. If you learned the ...
- 185
1
vote
6
answers
123
views
The subjunctive in a hypothetical scenario of a historical event
To the prompt "What historical moment would you like to have participated in?", my ESL student chose a Queen Live Aid concert, saying:
I’m a huge fan of Queen and Freddie Mercury so I think ...
- 49
1
vote
0
answers
173
views
Use of conditional and subjunctive in past tense narration [duplicate]
I am helping my friend with a story that is written in the past tense, and I've hit a snag with their uses of conditional and subjunctive. I could have sworn that I learned that you use "was"...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
499
views
Subjunctive Mood with the Type 3 Conditional or "could with the perfect infinitive" expressing ability, theoretical possibility, etc. in the past
From NBC news’s ‘Breakthrough finding’ reveals why certain Covid-19 patients die:
"Before Covid, their condition was silent," Bastard said. "Most of them hadn't gotten sick before.&...
- 235
1
vote
0
answers
22
views
Is the Subjunctive Mood always a conditional statement? [duplicate]
I had exam and they asked: I would go to the library every day, if I ____ you.
Options:
were
was
I came to know upon reading that question was in subjunctive mood. So, my question is
what is the ...
user310658
7
votes
1
answer
225
views
conditional mood, can the hypothetical entity be identified?
Does English grammar distinguish between a conditional sentence where the point of view is realistic, but the result is indeterminate; and one where the point of view is hypothetical, but the result ...
- 17k
4
votes
3
answers
9k
views
How to interpret “if it be” grammatically?
It looks to me a subjunctive form but not contemporary, so I would like to ask how this is properly interpreted gramatically.
In the second conditional “if it were” it is clearly subjunctive, but ...
- 754
3
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there such a thing as a “past subjunctive”?
Is there really such a thing as a “past subjunctive” in English?
I actually learned the term “past subjunctive” from my Spanish class. From what I already know, the subjunctive is used with ...
2
votes
2
answers
739
views
what's the meaning when "be" is followed by an infinitive
"If two Weeping Angels were to look at each other at the same time, they would be trapped in stone form until an outside force moves them apart."
My questions are about the phrase "were to look":
...
- 23
5
votes
4
answers
67k
views
"If you were to ..." or "If you ..." or "If you will ..."
If you were to go home, you would feel better
versus
If you went home, you would feel better
versus
If you will go home, you will feel better
Are all the above correct? Are there circumstances ...
- 346
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Future Subjunctive
I have a few issues to discuss linked to the Future Subjunctive.
Can "If I were you." mean the same as "If I were to be you." In other words, can "If I were you." have ...
- 1,040
14
votes
3
answers
90k
views
"It would be better if you drink/drank all the water" [duplicate]
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 of ...
- 241
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
"If we were going outside" in polite requests [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Was” or “were” in subjunctive clauses
Can we use "if you were going outside, please let me know" or "I was wondering if you were going outside" in a ...
- 13.6k
4
votes
6
answers
2k
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 gave me this ...
- 8,490