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Edamame Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

past subjunctive

0Somebody wrote this to me. 02br
00 "01span00We could meet Saturday afternoon, if that were to be convenient for you." I'm a bit confused by this. Because I learned when I use past subjunctive, it means it is not happening. 02span02br
00Thank you. 0-
  

Top answer

0This structure is being used to be deferential. "0-

— BarbaraPA

  • 0This structure is being used to be deferential.
  • "0-
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5 Answers
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0This structure is being used to be deferential. In my opinon, over deferential.02br
02br
00I would say "If that would be convenient" or more simply "If that is convenvient." Or even "Would Saturday be convenient for you?"0-
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0Thank you very much. So even though it is 'over deferential', it is not grammatically incorrect. I assume this person wanted to be very very polite.0-
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0Think of it as thought the person were saying "if the mere thought of my making a suggestion for this day were okay, then would that day be acceptable" - or "If it were to be okay for me to make this suggestion, then would that day work?"02br
02br
00Too much, if you ask me.0-
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0
1b00if this were to be02b02br
02br
00is correct, as you can see in these Google Books examples: 02br
01b00502b00 on 01b00"if this were to be acceptable"02b02br
02br
05002br
02br
00However, 02br
02br
01b00it this were02b02br
02b
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0 01i00"02i00We could meet Saturday afternoon, if that were to be convenient for you."02br
01b00I agree with GG: I call it a case of "too much verb".02b02br
00 0-
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