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subjunctive/indicative

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BW2/3  #237240  Sun, 18 Jun 06 02:02 AM

If she was not in Paris, then it made sense it was not her that picked up the phone when I called her home.

If Bill was the governor of Kansas, then he had been the president from 1992 to 2000.

I wondered if she were here.

I asked if her sister was here.

Are they OK?

Thank you  

  
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Watchayakan  #237241  Sun, 18 Jun 06 02:05 AM

If she was not in Paris, then it made sense it was not her that picked up the phone when I called her home.
-"... it made sense that it was not..."

If Bill was the governor of Kansas, then he had been the president from 1992 to 2000.
-"... then he was the president..."

I wondered if she were here.
-It should be 'was' instead of 'were.'

I asked if her sister was here.
-Okay.

  
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Grammar Geek  #237264  Sun, 18 Jun 06 03:52 AM
I believe instead of "it was not her that picked up the phone" that you want "it was not she who picked up the phone."
  
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Watchayakan  #237270  Sun, 18 Jun 06 04:00 AM
    They sound equal to me.
  
Grammar Geek  #237271  Sun, 18 Jun 06 04:03 AM

Her picked up the phone.

She picked up the phone.

Do they sound equal?

  
Watchayakan  #237274  Sun, 18 Jun 06 04:08 AM
    No, they don't.  The circumstance must have confused me.  Thanks, GG.
  
rishonly  #237276  Sun, 18 Jun 06 04:09 AM

 Watchayakan wrote:
    They sound equal to me.

No, 'her' is not grammatically correct in the sentence.

  
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Grammar Geek  #237279  Sun, 18 Jun 06 04:20 AM
I understand. It's common to say "That was her!" or "That was not her!" even though by the laws of grammar it should be the nominative "That was she."  Often our ears protest hearing "It was she," thinking it sounds absurdly pendantic, stuffy, or old fashioned. But once you have the rest of the phase included: "she who answered the phone" then it becomes clear that the nominative is necessary.
  
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