By Subjunctives, Simple past

Taka wrote: Bokeh wrote: MrPedantic wrote: The two forms once differed, but are now identical. According to "A Modern English Grammar" (Oxford) using the simple past in this context is erroneous.Bokeh,I would like you to cite what the book actually says.Plus, I wonder what your nationality is....

Bokeh wrote: MrPedantic wrote:The two forms once differed, but are now identical.According to "A Modern English Grammar" (Oxford) using the simple past in this context is erroneous.Bokeh,I would like you to cite what the book actually says.Plus, I wonder what your nationality is. Personally, I...

MrPedantic wrote:The two forms once differed, but are now identical.According to "A Modern English Grammar" (Oxford) using the simple past in this context is erroneous.

Bokeh wrote:I think you are misunderstanding my post. The sentence is obviously subjunctive... but what I was attempting to point out was using the simple past "saw" rather than the imperfect subjunctive "were to see" is wrong when used in conjunction with the conditional. This obvious error has...

Goodman wrote:Hi Bokeh, Becasue of your reply, it made me take a second look at the original question.I think you are misunderstanding my post. The sentence is obviously subjunctive... but what I was attempting to point out was using the simple past "saw" rather than the imperfect subjunctive...

Hi Bokeh, Becasue of your reply, it made me take a second look at the original question. I also did some research and found this paper written on the subject of Semantic Composition of Subjunctive Conditionals by Michela Ippolito of MIT/Tübingen University. I am not completely sure if I...

Cool Breeze wrote: Goodman wrote:I'll say "sunjunctive".I agree.Of course it's not the subjunctive (but it should be). "Saw" is the simple past (indefinite preterite). This is a common error made by native english speakers in conjunction with the conditional.The subjunctive of any verb takes...

HelloI have trouble explaining modal auxiliaries to German speakers.He must be drunk.to put this into the past = He must have been drunk. She should see the doctor.this into the past = she should have seen the doctor.But ....He can play the pianointo the past =? #1. he can have played the...

CalifJim wrote: I don't know of any special name for the expressions It's time and wish. CJ Well I did some work on the internet and got some useful links. You said that you don't know any specific name for the expression but I've found one. Please verify is it correct or not. It's called...

Hafsa wrote: Some verbs are followed by -ing, like finished cleaning, avoid answering, etc. If we are talking about finished actions, we can say having done, like finished having cleaned. My question is that it doesn't seems correct to me in some sentences like: "He tried to...