at though she is / were

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Yoong Liat  #293264  Wed, 15 Nov 06 08:08 AM

1. She walks as though she is drunk.

2. She walks as though she was drunk.

3. She walks as though she were drunk.

What is the difference between the three sentences? I believe #2 and #3 have the same meaning.

  
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Yoong Liat
Inchoateknowledge  #293286  Wed, 15 Nov 06 08:50 AM
Hi

With regard to 2 and 3, only the mood.
2 is declarative, 3 is subjunctive.
No diff in meaning.
both 2 and 3 mean that it looks like she is drunk, although the speaker knows that she is not.
1 means that the speaker assumes she is drunk.
  
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Yoong Liat  #293304  Wed, 15 Nov 06 09:15 AM

Incho

What about sentence 1?

  
Anonymous  #293397  Wed, 15 Nov 06 12:56 PM
 Yoong Liat wrote:

Incho

What about sentence 1?



Read my post again . It  must have slipped your attention.
  
Inchoateknowledge  #293399  Wed, 15 Nov 06 12:57 PM
 Yoong Liat wrote:

Incho

What about sentence 1?



Read my post again. It must have slipped your attention.
  
Yoong Liat  #293404  Wed, 15 Nov 06 01:04 PM
 Inchoateknowledge wrote:
 Yoong Liat wrote:

Incho

What about sentence 1?



Read my post again. It must have slipped your attention.

Sorry. I was distracted by the other sentences and missed this: 'No diff in meaning.'

  
Marius Hancu  #293412  Wed, 15 Nov 06 01:23 PM
3 is stronger than 2 in terms of doubt wrt the fact of her being drunk.

"Were" is used in contrary-to-the-fact sentences, and many authors argue this is the only place it should be used.

1 and 2 are informal, 3 is formal.

I think that many would argue 1 is not correct even in the informal use.



  
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Marius Hancu  #293413  Wed, 15 Nov 06 01:27 PM
At the New York Times:

http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22as+though+she+were%22+&srchst=nyt
"as though she were" 185 Results


http://query.nytimes.com/search/query?query=%22as+though+she+is%22+&srchst=nyt
"as though she is" 28 Results


"As though she was" is used at the New York Times only in the PAST TIME. Thus to me, it is considered non-standard in terms of formal writing, when used in present time. See these examples:

  •  MODERN LOVE; The New Nanny Diaries Are Online

    ... ? It wasn't as though she was quaffing Scotch or bedding guys ...View free preview

    July 17, 2005 - By HELAINE OLEN (NYT) - Style - News - 1750 words
  • Article available with TimesSelect subscription or for purchase Hydie Sumner Wants Her Job Back.

    ... . It was as though she was making a very complicated business ...View free preview

    June 5, 2005 - By Mimi Swartz (NYT) - Magazine - News - 3121 words
  • THE HUNT; Agreeing Is Easy When No One Has to Give In

    ... Mrs. Middleberg felt as though she was visiting the city, not ...


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    Inchoateknowledge  #293415  Wed, 15 Nov 06 01:30 PM

     Marius Hancu wrote:
    3 is stronger than 2 in terms of doubt wrt the fact of her being drunk.

    "Were" is used in contrary-to-the-fact sentences, and many authors argue this is the only place it should be used.

    1 and 2 are informal, 3 is formal.

    I think that many would argue 1 is not correct even in the informal use.



    Hi Marius

    "I think that many would argue 1 is not correct even in the informal use. " Notwithstanding this fact, I see this pattern quite a few times.

      
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