Comments on: Subjunctive Mode http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/ The #1 Grammar & Punctuation Resource on the Internet! Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-10028 Jane Sat, 29 Dec 2012 00:03:09 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-10028 Thank you for the compliment! Thank you for the compliment!

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-10056 Jane Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:11:08 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-10056 Yes, the usage of "were" does apply to an object as well as a person. Example: If the firecracker were to explode, it would hurt my ears. If only one option were available, which would you prefer? Yes, the usage of “were” does apply to an object as well as a person.
Example: If the firecracker were to explode, it would hurt my ears.

If only one option were available, which would you prefer?

]]> By: Silvia German http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-9775 Silvia German Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:35:07 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-9775 Dear Jane, All the examples above of the subjunctive mode refer to a person or persons. Does usage of "were" in a hypothetical sentence also apply to objects and situations? Example: If only one option were available which would you prefer? Or should it be: "If only one option was available" Thanks for your help Silvia Dear Jane,
All the examples above of the subjunctive mode refer to a person or persons. Does usage of “were” in a hypothetical sentence also apply to objects and situations?
Example:
If only one option were available which would you prefer?
Or should it be: “If only one option was available”
Thanks for your help
Silvia

]]> By: George Nieves http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-9017 George Nieves Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:58:11 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-9017 Your lessons are great and so easy to follow Your lessons are great and so easy to follow

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-5724 Jane Thu, 26 May 2011 12:03:44 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-5724 You pose a very interesting question. The article on the following website might shed some light on the matter: http://www.ceafinney.com/subjunctive/excerpts.html You pose a very interesting question. The article on the following website might shed some light on the matter:

http://www.ceafinney.com/subjunctive/excerpts.html

]]> By: Kenneth Howe Jones, MArch http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-5069 Kenneth Howe Jones, MArch Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:15:26 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-5069 What I'd like to know is the reasoning behind the use of the plural "I were" instead of the singular "I was"? Seems very arbitrary and even a bit pompous doesn't it? Is it perhaps from a British preference (or archaic-historic usage)? Or perhaps to just keep the SM rule as simple as possible? As a student of semantics and linguistics over the last fifty years or so, the logic behind this choice has always managed to elude me. It still strikes me as just another of those committee decisions without any real basis. Could you perhaps shed some light on the matter? Thoughts? Thanks. KHJ What I’d like to know is the reasoning behind the use of the plural “I were” instead of the singular “I was”? Seems very arbitrary and even a bit pompous doesn’t it? Is it perhaps from a British preference (or archaic-historic usage)? Or perhaps to just keep the SM rule as simple as possible? As a student of semantics and linguistics over the last fifty years or so, the logic behind this choice has always managed to elude me. It still strikes me as just another of those committee decisions without any real basis. Could you perhaps shed some light on the matter? Thoughts?
Thanks. KHJ

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-4966 Jane Fri, 01 Apr 2011 20:19:52 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-4966 You are correct about the subjunctive nature of the sentence. In the case of your sentence, the use of "his desire" can cause the verb "bear" to have a subjunctive mood because a wish is being expressed. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs. The subjective mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in formal speech and writing. You are correct about the subjunctive nature of the sentence. In the case of your sentence, the use of “his desire” can cause the verb “bear” to have a subjunctive mood because a wish is being expressed. The subjunctive mood pairs singular subjects with what we usually think of as plural verbs. The subjective mood is losing ground in spoken English but should still be used in formal speech and writing.

]]> By: Michael http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-4753 Michael Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:27:50 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-4753 Here's something for which I require assurance. I am constantly running afoul of the spelling and grammar checker in Microsoft Word. Most recently, I typed this sentence [truncated here]: "... so that she might become pregnant, in keeping with his desire that she bear his child." Microsoft is not happy with my choice of 'bear' and suggests 'bears.' I know damned well that Microsoft is wrong! My question is this: is it the subjunctive nature of the sentence which would make 'bear' correct, or is there some other grammatical rule operating here? Here’s something for which I require assurance. I am constantly running afoul of the spelling and grammar checker in Microsoft Word. Most recently, I typed this sentence [truncated here]: “… so that she might become pregnant, in keeping with his desire that she bear his child.” Microsoft is not happy with my choice of ‘bear’ and suggests ‘bears.’ I know damned well that Microsoft is wrong! My question is this: is it the subjunctive nature of the sentence which would make ‘bear’ correct, or is there some other grammatical rule operating here?

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-4504 Jane Sun, 31 Oct 2010 02:44:39 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-4504 "I wish I were as intelligent as you." "He wishes he were the best student..." You are correct in using the subjunctive mood. “I wish I were as intelligent as you.”
“He wishes he were the best student…”
You are correct in using the subjunctive mood.

]]> By: Carmen http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/effective-writing/subjunctive-mode-and-some-confusing-words/#comment-4502 Carmen Sun, 31 Oct 2010 02:08:50 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=74#comment-4502 This part of grammar was excelent, It's just I wanted to know. But It rested me a little doubt:. Subjunctive with verb to be, the first person (I) and third person (he/she) is always WERE? Example: I wish I were so intelligent like you. Or He wishes he were the best student in his class this year. Are these sentences ok? please I wish you corrected my mistakes. Thanks a lot. I neither know if the website is correct. Excuse me. Regards from....Carnen e- mail lovelyipaz@live.cl This part of grammar was excelent, It’s just I wanted to know. But It rested me a little doubt:. Subjunctive with verb to be, the first person (I) and third person (he/she) is always WERE? Example: I wish I were so intelligent like you. Or He wishes he were the best student in his class this year. Are these sentences ok? please I wish you corrected my mistakes.
Thanks a lot.
I neither know if the website is correct. Excuse me.
Regards from….Carnen
e- mail lovelyipaz@live.cl

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