I just want to point out the word "could" is indicative of the subjunctive mood Modal verbs don't have tenses and moods in the way that other verbs do. could certainly acts like a past subjunctive in If I could help you, I would.

If I had done it a year ago, I would be rich now. Or: If I had done it a year ago, I would have become rich by now. If I did it a year ago, I certainly remember nothing about it! Did is a simple past tense verb form in the above sentence,

1) This was an example on an internet site: 'That must be him on the phone' The site suggested that it should read, 'that must be he on the phone' Correct. But I'm the only person I know personally who says it that way. Their

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

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

Can you give me some examples of the present subjunctive in regular verbs, other than 'be' verbs? Can you also give me some examples of the past subjunctive in regular verbs, other than 'be' verbs? As already explained above, other than be ,

Hi in my opinion, it can be either subjunctive or indicative (simple past). She's swiping at Rusty as though he's a fly. (indicative, simple present - He is not a fly - general statement) She swiped at Rusty as though he was a fly. (indicative,

Teleostomi wrote: Hi native speakers of English, could you tell me whether my "hypothesis" is right or not? My hypothesis : the subjunctive usage of "as if" takes effect only if the main verb is in the present tense. Hi Teleostomi, I'm not a

Teleostomi wrote: But why isn't the sentence done with "agreement of tense"? He looks at me as if I were crazy. -->( He looked at me as if I had been crazy. He looks at me as if I am crazy. -->( He looked at me as if I was crazy. The

Hi Bokeh, 1. Imperfect subjunctive is OK with me if you want to use that term. Indefinite preterite is fine, too. Whatever the terminology, it seems to me that the question was whether saw in that sentence was acceptable to a