If were + ing form, would be -ing/ must be -ing

Question

Dear all,could anyone please check out (it is appropriate to say check out here?) if the following sentences are correct?1).  Doctor to a patient:  You're suffering from OCD (Obsessive compulsive Disorder).      Patient:  That cannot be true! If I  WERE SUFFERING form OCD, I would be thinking all the time and I would have abnormal habits.    [ Does it mean that the patient believes that he/she is not in fact suffering form OCD; he/she  is not  thinking... and he/she doesn't have abnormal habits? Will anyone please clarify this?]Also, would it be correct to say and what would be the meaning if I said 'If I WERE SUFFERING form OCD, I must be thinking all the time and I must have abnormal habits'?  [Is it a correct construction (using  must be + ing in the result clause when we have  were + ing in the If clause)? ]Thank you.One of your pupils.LB

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Laborious Does it mean that the patient believes that he/she is not in fact suffering from OCD;

Yes.

Laborioushe/she is not thinking... and he/she doesn't have abnormal habits?

Yes.

LaboriousIs it a correct construction (using must be + ing in the result clause

No, use "would."

This might be the construction you are thinking of:

He must be suffering from OCD; he is obsessing about germs and washing his hands every two minutes.

Laborious · Answer

Thank you Dear,

So, you're saying that with were suffering in the If-clause, using/saying must be thinking in the result clause is wrong.
Dear Madam, would you kindly tell me the logic/ reason behind this?

I think saying "If he is suffering from OCD, he must be thinking all the time, obsessing about germs and washing his hands every two minutes" is correct, isn't it? [is it necessary to add "he must be" before obsessing and before washing in this sentence?]

I

AlpheccaStarsHe must be suffering from OCD; he is obsessing about germs and washing his hands every two minutes.

I think I understand your point here that If I'm the speaker or in other words if the subject is "I" not "he", I don't need to use must here. I can simply say "I am suffering form....", not "I must be suffering form...".

Thank you dear AlpStars.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Laborious"If he is suffering from OCD, he must be thinking all the time, obsessing about germs and washing his hands every two minutes" is correct, isn't it? [

That's OK, but not the usual way that we say this.

Here are some variations:

!) I am convinced that I have OCD, but the doctor does not believe me.
I must be suffering from OCD because I wash my hands frequently and am in constant fear of germs.

2) The doctor has told me I have OCD, but I don't believe him.
If I were suffering from OCD, I would be washing my hands frequently and in constant fear of germs and I'm not doing any of these things.

3) Guidelines for diagnosing OCD:
If a person is suffering from OCD, he or she has the following symptoms: frequent hand washing, abnormal fear of germs, (etc.)
For a person to be diagnosed as suffering from OCD, he or she must exhibit certain symptoms such as: repetitive abnormal behavior, unwarranted fears, poor social interactions, etc.

4) Guidelines for treating OCD:
If a person were to be (/ is) diagnosed as suffering from OCD, then put him or her into a counselling program and prescribe one of these drugs: A, B, (etc.)

If were + ing form, would be -ing/ must be -ing

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