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Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

With=if?

The sentences:
An appealing fantasy would be a great conference of the world's nations where, instead of politicians or statesmen, each country would send its leading humorists to represent it. Instead of an atmosphere of promp and seriousness that would normally be dictated by such an occasion, there would prevail a lightheartedness, with an asssembly of individuals bent on raising spirits instead of suspicions.


About ' with an asssembly of individuals bent on raising spirits instead of suspicions', if I rewrite it as ' if there were an asssembly of individuals bent on raising spirits instead of suspicions', do you native speakers still feel that it naturally fits in the context? Or does it NOT sound the same as the original phrase?
  

Top answer

"if there were" is correct as well , however it slightly changes the meaning. " exists somewhere. " has never been created or has never existed.

— J7

  • "if there were" is correct as well , however it slightly changes the meaning.
  • " exists somewhere.
  • " has never been created or has never existed.
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4 Answers
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"if there were" is correct as well , however it slightly changes the meaning. "with" carries the connotation that the "assembly of indiviuals..." exists somewhere. "If there were" conveys more the fact that such an "assembly of individuals..." has never been created or has never existed.
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So, if there is a slight change in the meaning, don't you think the reprhasing doen't work contextually?
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They both work, just depends on what you want
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When I read both options, the original sentence with "with" makes a much more vivid and real picture; the other is simply a comparison.
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