By Common errors, Subjunctives

Anonymous wrote: Hi, I usually edit some of the stuff my coworkers write around here, I believe I have good knowledge of what I'm doing but now I doubt it because of a document I'm reading right now... This is how it reads (in many paragraphs): "It is recommended that the agency review and...

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...

1. She phoned to ascertain whether he were dining at the club. 2. He looked at me as if he suspected I were cheating on him. 3. If he were surprised, he didn't show it. Only my opinion; but I would call these three examples incorrect in standard English. (Some rural BrE dialects use "were"...