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Arc123 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Indicative or Subjunctive help needed please..
Hi,
I have an empty bottle in my hand.
Is is correct to say:
(a) "If it was full, it would weigh one thousand grams." (Indicative)
or
(b) "If it were full, it would weigh one thousand grams." (Subjunctive)
Am i right in saying it depends on how likely the bottle can be filled as to whether I
choose (a) or (b) ? We use the first case if we can just refill the bottle but we use the second case if we
were in the middle of the Sahara Desert with no water?
Sorry if this seems a little basic but I have been trying to understand this and I hope someone can spare the time to
give me some feedback..
Thanks :-)
a.
I have an empty bottle in my hand.
Is is correct to say:
(a) "If it was full, it would weigh one thousand grams." (Indicative)
or
(b) "If it were full, it would weigh one thousand grams." (Subjunctive)
Am i right in saying it depends on how likely the bottle can be filled as to whether I
choose (a) or (b) ? We use the first case if we can just refill the bottle but we use the second case if we
were in the middle of the Sahara Desert with no water?
Sorry if this seems a little basic but I have been trying to understand this and I hope someone can spare the time to
give me some feedback..
Thanks :-)
a.
Top answer
Indicative or Subjunctive help needed please .. I don't think you can stop a sentence from being subjunctive just by using the wrong verb form. Actually, "was" is now accepted by most authorities as being correct.
- Indicative or Subjunctive help needed please ..
- I don't think you can stop a sentence from being subjunctive just by using the wrong verb form.
- Actually, "was" is now accepted by most authorities as being correct.
- ) It is my understanding that (a) and (b) are both in the subjunctive mood.
- I don't believe the circumstances of its filling or not being filled are pertinent.
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4 Answers
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Indicative or Subjunctive help needed please..
I don't think you can stop a sentence from being subjunctive just by using the wrong verb form.
Actually, "was" is now accepted by most authorities as being correct. (but not by my mother!)
It is my understanding that (a) and (b) are both in the subjunctive mood.
I don't believe the circumstances of its filling o
I don't think you can stop a sentence from being subjunctive just by using the wrong verb form.
Actually, "was" is now accepted by most authorities as being correct. (but not by my mother!)
It is my understanding that (a) and (b) are both in the subjunctive mood.
I don't believe the circumstances of its filling o
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arc123Am i right in saying it depends on how likely the bottle can be filled as to whether II don't think there is room left for likelihood in that situation, as the bottle is there and is empty, and whether it can later be filled or not is irrelevant - what matters is that at the time of speaking it's empty, leaving all other possibiliti
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arc123Am i right in saying it depends on how likely the bottle can be filled as to whether Ichoose (a) or (b) ? We use the first case if we can just refill the bottle but we use the second case if we were in the middle of the Sahara Desert with no water?If such a "rule" does in fact exist, I don't think that a great many people follow it. Most of them simply
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