Changing an example: Indicative vs. Subjunctive Mood

Question

Hello,Suppose I wrote the following:Men has landed on the moon.If I change 'has landed' to 'have landed' above, will it be correct?Questions:1.  In the above example, should I use the indicative mood or the subjunctive mood "If I changed 'has landed to 'have landed', would it be correct?"?2.  If the indicative mood is the more appropriate above, can I change 'will it be correct?' to 'is it correct?'3.  Incidentally, which is correct between 'Men has landed' and 'Men have landed'?  I was wondering if 'has' is possible taking men as one group.Please advise.  Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Anonymous1. In the above example, should I use the indicative mood or the subjunctive mood "If I changed 'has landed to 'have landed', would it be correct?"?

Either one is perfectly fine.

AnonymousIf the indicative mood is the more appropriate above, can I change 'will it be correct?' to 'is it correct?'

Yes. Don't ask me why, but in that case I'd put the if clause at the end. Is it correct if I change ...?

AnonymousIncidentally, which is correct between 'Men has landed' and 'Men have landed'? I was wondering if 'has' is possible taking men as one group.

Only have is correct. If you take men as a group, meaning "mankind", then use "man". Man has landed ...

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, CJ, for your quick and helpful response. You've answered everything. I appreciate that.

CalifJim
Anonymous1. In the above example, should I use the indicative mood or the subjunctive mood "If I changed 'has landed to 'have landed', would it be correct?"?
Either one is perfectly fine.

Since either one is fine, is there any difference in meaning between them?
Which mood would you normally use in the example being a native speaker?

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,

I'm sorry, but I wonder what you would use between the indicative and subjunctive mood in the given example, being a native speaker.

I understand the indicative suggests one is more likely to change the sentence, whereas in the subjunctive, one is less likely. Assuming the person asking in the example doesn't know the answer and therefore we wouldn't know whether he was more or less likely to change the sentence, which would a native speaker usually use?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI understand the indicative suggests one is more likely to change the sentence, whereas in the subjunctive, one is less likely. Assuming the person asking in the example doesn't know the answer and therefore we wouldn't know whether he was more or less likely to change the sentence, which would a native speaker usually use?

I think this really comes down to another question. Do native speakers more often think they are talking to someone who is more likely to change the sentence, or do they more often think they are talking to someone who is less likely to change the sentence? I suppose you would have to take a survey and work out the statistics on this one!

In the absence of such a survey, I would use would. I like would. Given the choice between will and would, I often use would. And I would advise others to do the same. But then I'm just one of many, many, many native speakers!

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks so much CJ for all your explanations. I now understand.

CalifJim
AnonymousIf the indicative mood is the more appropriate above, can I change 'will it be correct?' to 'is it correct?'
Yes. Don't ask me why, but in that case I'd put the if clause at the end. Is it correct if I change ...?

1. Just a question, is it also possible to mix tenses in conditionals?
Is the following correct? I understand 'was' would be the normal choice here, but suppose I what I wanted to know is its correctness not only at that time, but timelessly.

Is it correct if I changed my opinion in the meeting yesterday?

2. How would the sentence be different in meaning if I changed 'if' above to 'that'? Which is better English?

BillJ · Answer

Just looked at this thread. I can't see the slightest sign of a subjunctive clause anywhere, unless the OP thinks that the expression 'would it be correct' is subjunctive, which it isn't.

BillJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, BillJ, for your input.

BillJJust looked at this thread. I can't see the slightest sign of a subjunctive clause anywhere, unless the OP thinks that the expression 'would it be correct' is subjunctive, which it isn't.

I'm sorry, I don't completely understand. Do you mean it should be as follows to make the sentence correct?
Would it be correct if I changed my opinion in the meeting yesterday?

Is it not possible to have an indicative conditional with mixed tenses like the following example?
Is it correct if I changed my opinion in the meeting yesterday? (main clause: present tense or timeless; if clause: past tense)

What I really wanted to know is whether the sentence just above is possible and grammatically correct. Please advise. Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

BillJJust looked at this thread. I can't see the slightest sign of a subjunctive clause anywhere, unless the OP thinks that the expression 'would it be correct' is subjunctive, which it isn't.

If I changed X to Y, ...

There is nothing unusual, within the traditional approach to grammar, in calling changed subjunctive in this context.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousis it also possible to mix tenses in conditionals?

Sometimes.

AnonymousIs it correct if I changed my opinion in the meeting yesterday?

I find this sentence awkward in terms of meaning.

Anonymousif I changed 'if' above to 'that'?

With that change it would sound better to my ear.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you so much, CJ, for your explanations. This is perfectly clear to me now.

As a matter of fact, you are one of those whose way of teaching I really appreciate. You're direct to the point and answer questions one by one. I find this really effective for learners like me.

Again, thank you and more power.

Changing an example: Indicative vs. Subjunctive Mood

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