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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

were/would be

I feel embarrassed about what happened and would rather the event were forgotten.
I feel embarrassed about what happened and would rather the event would be forgotten.

The first is from my grammar book and the second is mine (just a little changing though).
Do they carry about the same meaning?
Or repetiion of "would" is wrong?

Thanks
LiJ
  

Top answer

Your sentence doesn't work with the word 'would' added, LiJ. However, you could use the subjunctive 'be' rather than 'were': I feel embarrassed about what happened and would rather the event be forgotten.

— Yankee

  • Your sentence doesn't work with the word 'would' added, LiJ.
  • However, you could use the subjunctive 'be' rather than 'were': I feel embarrassed about what happened and would rather the event be forgotten.
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2 Answers
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Your sentence doesn't work with the word 'would' added, LiJ. However, you could use the subjunctive 'be' rather than 'were':

I feel embarrassed about what happened and would rather the event be forgotten.
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Thanks, Amy. I like your suggestion, the 'be' usage. Got it!
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