What mood is it?

Question

If I am asked to analise the following sentence: "If I had a watch, I could tell you the time." what shall I say? Is it a subjunctive or a conditional or both (if both, how can this be explained? a vb can't have two tenses, both past and present then how can it have two moods, such as subjunctive and conditional?)

thaks in advance

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

olive train 503If I had a watch

Traditionally, this is called a (past) subjunctive. Of course, it's identical to the past indicative, which is also had.

olive train 503I could tell you the time.

This is the main clause. It's simply a modal tense (because of could), which is typical in a main clause associated with an if-clause.

In this context could is equivalent to would be able to, which contains would, the most commonly used modal verb in main clauses associated with if-clauses. In these cases the verb form (with would) is traditionally said to be in the conditional mood.

CJ

olive train 503Is it a subjunctive or a conditional or both (if both, how can this be explained? a vb can't have two tenses, both past and present then how can it have two moods, such as subjunctive and conditional?)

Each clause is treated separately, so each clause has its own mood. The verb in the if-clause is in the subjunctive mood. The verb in the main clause is in the conditional mood.

Together, however, we say that it's a conditional sentence.

CJ

What mood is it?

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