In Conditionals^x, Subjunctives^x, Verbs^x

When speaking very properly, 'as if' should be followed by the subjunctive 'were' (I.e. the second conditional).  Most people, however, use a finite verb instead (i.e. 'are').

Interesting! You never taught me those conditionals! Does that mean that in English (like in Italian), it is possible to use the simple past instead of the subjunctive formed with the past perfect, in informal and casual English? The only example I know it's kind of common is substituting...

.1-- Were is the SUBJUNCTIVE form of the verb, here used in a mixed conditional sentence (more crefully written, it should read If I were there, I would do that.2-- Your sentence is wrong. It should read: Doesn't Vincent have any homework? The singular '-s' is in...

Hi,... and somebody says it's subjunctive. See also:http://www.englishforums.com/English/ChangingTenses/dqcdx/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhichSentencesAreCorrect/zjbhp/post.htm

, (then) ... would have ... UNREAL, COUNTERFACTUAL *The past is sometimes called the past subjunctive in this position. Only the verb to be has a special form (were in all persons and numbers) in this position.Other combinations of tenses in these kinds of if patterns have no...

Could you come up with some clear examples wrt your problems? We're just moving around words here. Be specific. Use these for references (I consider the first the best): http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-conditional_3.htm

Your sentence is type 2 conditional sentence. Hence the if-clause is in the past tense and the main verb is in the 'conditional' tense. However, the past tense in this is not a real past tense, it is a subjunctive. Therefore, this refers to present or future time. If you use...

MrPedantic wrote: I see what you mean; but I think the distinction between type I and type II conditionals disappears, once the statement is reported. In effect, everything becomes "detached", i.e. "remote".Your insight is amazingly deep, MrP! If anything, in my opinion, the reason why it...

Well, I'm sorry, but at least for me, it's very hard to see future or present when you have a subjunctive in your mother language that perfectly fits the situation. For me, present talks about present, same with future. That being said, can somebody explain to me how "Well, I certainly hope he...

This situation is a little different than your type III conditional formula is intended for. The speaker is not in Ian's position, so the phrase is a "condition contrary to fact". In that situation a formal speaker or writer would use the subjunctive mood of the verb rather than indicative or...