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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Subjunctive, conditional, reported speech

I was watching the movie "Ocean's 11". Near the end, Daniel Ocean says "What if I said I could get your money back if you gave up Tess?"

Is this simply a subjunctive question, with reported indicative elements ("you can get your money back if you give up Tess"), or is there a subjunctive element to the second part as well?

Sidebar: When we report subjunctive speech, is there any way to show it? The President said, "I would take some broccoli, if they offered it". He said he would take some broccoli if they offered it. The result is the same when we report the following: The President said "I will take some broccoli if they offer it." Right?
  

Top answer

Anonymous The President said, "I would take some broccoli, if they offered it". He said he would take some broccoli if they offered it. " Right?

— Marius Hancu

  • Anonymous The President said, "I would take some broccoli, if they offered it".
  • He said he would take some broccoli if they offered it.
  • " Right?
  • Yes.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousThe President said, "I would take some broccoli, if they offered it".


He said he would take some broccoli if they offered it.

The result is the same when we report the following:

The President said "I will take some broccoli if they offer it."


Right?

Yes.
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Generally speaking, the report of a real conditional (indicative) and the report of an unreal conditional (subjunctive) are indistinguishable. Once the backshift is applied to report these, it is impossible to recover exactly quoted direct speech from the reported form.

CJ
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