0
Lucas21c Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

The Subjunctive Mood

If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.

I extracted the above sentence from the Stanford commencement speech delivered by Steve Jobs.
As far as I know, the underlined 'was' should be 'were' because the If-clause is a the subjunctive sentence, not a conditional sentence.
However, I am not sure whether I am right because Steve Jobs is a native English speaker, and I am not.
Could you tell whether it is his minimal mistake or I am wrong?
  

Top answer

lucas21c As far as I know, the underlined 'was' should be 'were' More formally, yes. But both 'was' and 'were' are in use for that kind of construction ( as if ). lucas21c because the If-clause is a the subjunctive sentence, not a conditional sentence.

— CalifJim

  • lucas21c As far as I know, the underlined 'was' should be 'were' More formally, yes.
  • But both 'was' and 'were' are in use for that kind of construction ( as if ).
  • lucas21c because the If-clause is a the subjunctive sentence, not a conditional sentence.
  • There is no such thing as a subjunctive sentence.
  • lucas21c Steve Jobs is a native English speaker There's a saying among some linguists.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
lucas21cAs far as I know, the underlined 'was' should be 'were'
More formally, yes. But both 'was' and 'were' are in use for that kind of construction (as if).
lucas21cbecause the If-clause is a the subjunctive sentence, not a conditional sentence.
There is no such thing as a subjunctive sentence.
0
0
It's not a mistake. I'd use were, though.
0

Related Questions