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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Subjuctive mood
I'm trying to compare the English subjunctive with that of German.
In English:
If I were to say that you are old, would you be insulted?
Is this a proper subjunctive construction with the infinitive?
If I said that you are old, would you be insulted?
In this example, is "said" in the subjunctive mood?
How about "say" in the following sentence?
If I say that you are old, will you be insulted?
Thank you in advance for any help.
Jack
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In English:
If I were to say that you are old, would you be insulted?
Is this a proper subjunctive construction with the infinitive?
If I said that you are old, would you be insulted?
In this example, is "said" in the subjunctive mood?
How about "say" in the following sentence?
If I say that you are old, will you be insulted?
Thank you in advance for any help.
Jack
Email Removed" mce_href="mailto:Email Removed">
Top answer
I don't know German, but the two first sentences are simply conditional in English. said - would / say - will
- I don't know German, but the two first sentences are simply conditional in English.
- said - would / say - will
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4 Answers
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I don't know German, but the two first sentences are simply conditional in English.
said - would / say - will
said - would / say - will
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I think Wikipedia says were to say is future subjunctuve, which makes sense to me, since it is expressing a hypothetical future condition, but which may be disregarded by many of the forum members who believe English has no future subjunctive.
'said' is subjuntive IMO. It is the past perfect subjunctive used in the second conditional.
The final one, 'say', is not the subjunctive
'said' is subjuntive IMO. It is the past perfect subjunctive used in the second conditional.
The final one, 'say', is not the subjunctive
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The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a command, a wish, a suggestion or a condition that is contrary to fact. A verb in the subjunctive mood may have a different form to one with the same subject which is not in the subjunctive mood.
Examples:
I was in your position two years ago. (not in the subjunctive mood)
If I were in your position, I would do the same. (subjun
Examples:
I was in your position two years ago. (not in the subjunctive mood)
If I were in your position, I would do the same. (subjun
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AnonymousIf I were to say that you are old, would you be insulted?Yes.
Is this a proper subjunctive construction with the infinitive?
AnonymousIf I said that you are old, would you be insulted?Yes.
In this example, is "said" in the subjunctive mood?
AnonymousHow about "say" in the following
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