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Itim Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Were + subject + not

Can anyone tell me which one of the two is correct?
And what the grammar form would be called in a sentence like the one below?

Were she not to eat, she would starve to death.

Were not she to eat, she would starve to death.

I feel like the first one is correct but I don't know for sure.
If the first one (were she not...) is correct, is there any situation where we would use "were not she...?"

Thanks Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Yes, "were she not" is the correct word order. "

— Ozzourti

  • Yes, "were she not" is the correct word order.
  • "
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4 Answers
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Yes, "were she not" is the correct word order.

I can't offhand think of a context in which I would naturally say "were not she..."
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These are variants on the third conditional:
  1. Were it not for his help, she would have died.
  2. Had he not helped her, she would have died.
  3. If he had not helped her, she would have died.
#3 is the most frequently used form, especially in conversations. You will see #1 in poetry and literary contexts.
Rarely, you will hear and read #2.
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I’m not sure I would call #2 rare. I’ve always thought of it as just a somewhat more formal alternant to #3.
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AlpheccaStarsWere it not for his help
Hmm. I'd have said second conditional, the third conditional form being Had it not been for his help.
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