Counterfactual subjunctive question

Question

I read the FAQ entry about the use of the past subjunctive in counterfactual phrases such as "If I were a mechanic, I could fix my own car." What about phrases that express a state that may or may not come to pass? To wit, is it "If I was to accept your offer. . .", as I was taught, or "If I were to accept your offer. . ."?

--R--

Usenet · Accepted Answer

"Ramandu" burbled news:(Email Removed):
[nq:1]I read the FAQ entry about the use of the past subjunctive in counterfactual phrases such as "If I were ... to accept your offer. . .", as I was taught, or "If I were to accept your offer. . ."?[/nq]
Anyone with an ear for English would say "If I were to accept your offer". Only babarians would say "If I was to accept your offer". Nonetheless, there are people here who will probably defend the "If I was" construction on some ground or other. To avoid the problem, say simply "If I accepted your offer", which is a palatable subjunctive, even for barbarians.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Anyone with an ear for English would say "If I were to accept your offer". Only babarians would say "If I was to accept your offer".[/nq]
Such people would be dumboes.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Anyone with an ear for English would say "If I ... babarians would say "If I was to accept your offer".[/nq]
[nq:1]Such people would be dumboes.[/nq]
****, I wish I'd thought of that! Well done!

Usenet · Answer

CyberCypher (Email Removed) wrote...
Agreed, but apart from euphony, is the justification for "were" that even though the assertion is not, strictly speaking, counterfactual (the fact hasn't happened yet), it still expresses uncertainty?

Also, would the present subjunctive "If I accept your offer. . ." be permissible? It sounds more pointed and direct.

--R--

Usenet · Answer

"Ramandu" burbled news:(Email Removed):
It is counterfactual--it's a hypothetical. I haven't accepted the offer yet and I am not particularly inclined to accept without a lot more information, so I am asking you this hypothetical question: "If I were to accept your offer, would you . . . ?
The present conditional is permissible, of course. This is neither counterfactual nor hypothetical--it's a straight conditional.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I read the FAQ entry about the use of the past subjunctive in counterfactual phrases such as "If I were ... it "If I was to accept your offer...", as I was taught, or "If I were to accept your offer..."?[/nq]
First off, you need to decide whether you want to use subujunctive at all. If you do, you say, "If I were to accept your offer...". If subjunctive is not appropriate, then use the indicative, and say, "If I am to accept your offer...", unless you have some reason to use the past tense.
Use the subjunctive or not you choice. But "was" is not subjunctive; it is past indicative.
Generally, conditional statements about the future use the present common, so in your example, I would say, "If I accept your offer, what salary can I expect?"
Saying, "If I were..." often implies that I am =not= going to accept your offer, or at the very least, that there appears some doubt as to whether I will accept, and probably goes on to explain why I ought not to do so.

Stefano
http://www.steve-and-pattie.com/esperantujo

Counterfactual subjunctive question

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