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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Wasn't / weren't
"If it had not been for you, I would never have gotten through this crisis."
I believe that most people would agree that the past perfect after "if" is "correct" English.
*****
If I am not mistaken, however, many speakers in informal English would put it this way:
If it wasn't / weren't for you, I would never have gotten through this crisis.
*****
I can understand that many people would use the subjunctive "weren't" here in their desire to use "good" English.
I think, however, that I read somewhere that in "modern" English, we should limit the subjunctive to present or
future hypothetical situations. For example: If it weren't for you, I would not have this job now.
I believe that some experts say that when we are referring to the past, we should use the indicative:
That is: If it wasn't for you (but it was because of you), I would never have gotten through this crisis.
*****
I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
I believe that most people would agree that the past perfect after "if" is "correct" English.
*****
If I am not mistaken, however, many speakers in informal English would put it this way:
If it wasn't / weren't for you, I would never have gotten through this crisis.
*****
I can understand that many people would use the subjunctive "weren't" here in their desire to use "good" English.
I think, however, that I read somewhere that in "modern" English, we should limit the subjunctive to present or
future hypothetical situations. For example: If it weren't for you, I would not have this job now.
I believe that some experts say that when we are referring to the past, we should use the indicative:
That is: If it wasn't for you (but it was because of you), I would never have gotten through this crisis.
*****
I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.
Top answer
In my opinion, use of the subjunctive is dying. Some style guides make the exact same recommendation as you (to limit the subjunctive to present or future hypothetical situations) and I have also seen comments stating its use can be perceived as snobby. I would be careful when it comes to ESL exams, however.
- In my opinion, use of the subjunctive is dying.
- Some style guides make the exact same recommendation as you (to limit the subjunctive to present or future hypothetical situations) and I have also seen comments stating its use can be perceived as snobby.
- I would be careful when it comes to ESL exams, however.
- For them, it's not over until the fat lady sings.
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4 Answers
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In my opinion, use of the subjunctive is dying.
Some style guides make the exact same recommendation as you (to limit the subjunctive to present or future hypothetical situations) and I have also seen comments stating its use can be perceived as snobby. I would be careful when it comes to ESL exams, however. For them, it's not over until the fat lady sings.
Some style guides make the exact same recommendation as you (to limit the subjunctive to present or future hypothetical situations) and I have also seen comments stating its use can be perceived as snobby. I would be careful when it comes to ESL exams, however. For them, it's not over until the fat lady sings.
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I have noticed over the years that verb forms are used more freely and perhaps "incorrectly" in English than in other Germanic languages, let alone my mother tongue. People say things like
If he had a long enough holiday, he would have gone to Paris.
I don't think I would ever say that. I do understand that you are not talking about this, though. As for If
If he had a long enough holiday, he would have gone to Paris.
I don't think I would ever say that. I do understand that you are not talking about this, though. As for If
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Cool BreezeThe fewer forms there are, the less colourful the language isThe fewer forms there are, the simpler the language is. If my memory serves me right, one of our most prolific contributors once said that he believed that there was very little use for the past perfect tense as well. Oftentimes, less is more.
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Cool BreezeAs for If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have this job, I would accept that but my preference would be If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't have this job.Hi CB,
I think I would use the textbook 3rd conditional if we go as far as using the past perfect "if " clause:
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