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Zuotengdazuo Posted 6 years ago
Grammar
As if it were of importance
”It’s very annoying, though, Watson. I was badly in need of a case, and this looks, from the man’s impatience, as if it were of importance...”
The Yellow Face
A client visited Holmes’s apartment but the latter wasn’t home. So the client waited until he got impatient and left. After a while, Holmes came back and said the above.
Hi. Is the subjunctive “were” used to here to make an observation about an unknown present situation, rather than being counterfactual (e.g. He is poor but he talks as if he were rich)?
Thank you.
The Yellow Face
A client visited Holmes’s apartment but the latter wasn’t home. So the client waited until he got impatient and left. After a while, Holmes came back and said the above.
Hi. Is the subjunctive “were” used to here to make an observation about an unknown present situation, rather than being counterfactual (e.g. He is poor but he talks as if he were rich)?
Thank you.
Top answer
Yes. com/blog/was-vs-were /
- Yes.
- com/blog/was-vs-were /
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1 Answers
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Yes. It is an 'unknown reality'
This might help:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/was-vs-were/
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