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Yoong Liat Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
at though she is / were
1. She walks as though she is drunk.
2. She walks as though she was drunk.
3. She walks as though she were drunk.
What is the difference between the three sentences? I believe #2 and #3 have the same meaning.
2. She walks as though she was drunk.
3. She walks as though she were drunk.
What is the difference between the three sentences? I believe #2 and #3 have the same meaning.
Top answer
Hi With regard to 2 and 3, only the mood. 2 is declarative, 3 is subjunctive. No diff in meaning.
- Hi With regard to 2 and 3, only the mood.
- 2 is declarative, 3 is subjunctive.
- No diff in meaning.
- both 2 and 3 mean that it looks like she is drunk, although the speaker knows that she is not.
- 1 means that the speaker assumes she is drunk.
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36 Answers
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Hi
With regard to 2 and 3, only the mood.
2 is declarative, 3 is subjunctive.
No diff in meaning.
both 2 and 3 mean that it looks like she is drunk, although the speaker knows that she is not.
1 means that the speaker assumes she is drunk.
With regard to 2 and 3, only the mood.
2 is declarative, 3 is subjunctive.
No diff in meaning.
both 2 and 3 mean that it looks like she is drunk, although the speaker knows that she is not.
1 means that the speaker assumes she is drunk.
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Yoong LiatInchoRead my post again . It must have slipped your attention.
What about sentence 1?
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Yoong LiatInchoRead my post again. It must have slipped your attention.
What about sentence 1?
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InchoateknowledgeSorry. I was distracted by the other sentences and missed this: 'No diff in meaning.'Yoong LiatInchoRead my post again. It must have slipped your attention.
What about sentence 1?
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3 is stronger than 2 in terms of doubt wrt the fact of her being drunk.
"Were" is used in contrary-to-the-fact sentences, and many authors argue this is the only place it should be used.
1 and 2 are informal, 3 is formal.
I think that many would argue 1 is not correct even in the informal use.
"Were" is used in contrary-to-the-fact sentences, and many authors argue this is the only place it should be used.
1 and 2 are informal, 3 is formal.
I think that many would argue 1 is not correct even in the informal use.
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At the New York Times:
http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22as+though+she+were%22+&srchst=nyt
"as though she were" 185 Results
http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22as+though+she+were%22+&srchst=nyt
"as though she were" 185 Results
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Marius Hancu3 is stronger than 2 in terms of doubt wrt the fact of her being drunk.Hi Marius
"Were" is used in contrary-to-the-fact sentences, and many authors argue this is the only place it should be used.
1 and 2 are informal, 3 is formal.
I think that many would argue 1 is not correct even in the informal use.
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Marius HancuAt the New York Times:
http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22as+though+she+were%22+&srchst=nyt
"as though she were" 185 Results
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