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Believer Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
requisite for a subjunctive structure
Hi,
I think I saw it in some post while back that I believe was corrected by CalifJim that said to the effect that you shouldn't or must not (as the case might be) have the phrase 'did not' in the if-clause and instead should be replaced with 'had not' if the situation is proved appropriate. Why is that? All the kinds of this should have 'had' in the if-clause?
eg,
If I didn't pick up an earring on the way back, I wouldn't be embarrassed in front of my friend now.
This should be:
If I hadn't picked up an earring on the way back, I wouldn't be (or would not have been) embarrassed in front of my friend now.
I think wouldn't be and would not have been can be allowed depending on context.
I think I saw it in some post while back that I believe was corrected by CalifJim that said to the effect that you shouldn't or must not (as the case might be) have the phrase 'did not' in the if-clause and instead should be replaced with 'had not' if the situation is proved appropriate. Why is that? All the kinds of this should have 'had' in the if-clause?
eg,
If I didn't pick up an earring on the way back, I wouldn't be embarrassed in front of my friend now.
This should be:
If I hadn't picked up an earring on the way back, I wouldn't be (or would not have been) embarrassed in front of my friend now.
I think wouldn't be and would not have been can be allowed depending on context.
Top answer
I don't get the connection between picking up an earring and being embarrassed, so they all seem strange. , then ... wouldn't ...
- I don't get the connection between picking up an earring and being embarrassed, so they all seem strange.
- , then ...
- wouldn't ...
- is normal.
- I doubt I've ever said it wasn't and that it should be something else.
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5 Answers
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I don't get the connection between picking up an earring and being embarrassed, so they all seem strange.
If didn't ..., then ... wouldn't ...is normal. I doubt I've ever said it wasn't and that it should be something else.
If didn't ..., then ... wouldn't ...is normal. I doubt I've ever said it wasn't and that it should be something else.
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Thank you, CalifJim
Let me give you a more solid example from a reputable source: Accoding to a section called Subjunctive in The American Heritage Book of English Usage (A practical and Authritive Guide to Contemporary English 1996), it is noted:
didn't for hadn't In speech people ofiten substitute didn't for the subjunctive hadn't in if clauses, such
Let me give you a more solid example from a reputable source: Accoding to a section called Subjunctive in The American Heritage Book of English Usage (A practical and Authritive Guide to Contemporary English 1996), it is noted:
didn't for hadn't In speech people ofiten substitute didn't for the subjunctive hadn't in if clauses, such
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>If I didn't pick up an earring on the way back, I wouldn't be embarrassed in front of my friend now.
Incorrect, but still subjunctive in the intention of the writer.
Incorrect, but still subjunctive in the intention of the writer.
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My question is "If a sentence contains 'didn't + something' in the if-clause, it should not be a subjunctive?"I'm lost by your use of "should". There's nothing to be done in terms of what one should or should not do. didn't is simply a non-standard substitute subjunctive for the standard subjunctive hadn't -- just as ain't is a non-standard subst
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I do see your point, though. You have a situation with two features that are problematic: a negative condition and a mixed conditional. That is, the if clause has a not and is in past time, and the main clause is in present time. These didn't for hadn'tsubstitutes are more likely to occur in these patterns. I think.
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