>
> Dick - if the event in question happened in the past, as in the second
> sentence model, would you write "He would have acted differently if he was
> sober"? This is a construction I see more commonly. Though, I might
> construct it differently still: "Had he been sober, he would have acted
> differently."
>
John


> Subjunctive mood is generally used for counter-factuals. Declarative mood
> is used for factual events or events of unknown factuality, including those
> that follow "if." So I'd write:
>
>    - He would be acting differently if he were sober.
>    - He can't remember if he was at the party.
>
> Dick
>
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 27, 2011 at 4:48 PM, Michael Kischner <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
> I want to write a gentle respond to someone who wrote to my college alumni
> magazine in great dismay over this sentence in its last issue:  "You
> wouldn't be reading this magazine if Kenyon wasn't special to you."  She
> asserts, "The word 'if' always takes the subjunctive.. . . I would expect no
> less than proper grammar in our alumni magazine!"
>
> Does somebody have a good feel for where things stand on this now?  In the
> latest edition of Martha Kolln's book that I have (7th; 2006), Martha says
> that "was" is "fairly common" in certain "If" sentences --"If Joe was here,
> he'd agree with me" -- but that, in writing,"the subjunctive *were* is the
> standard form."  Edith Wollin says pretty much the same thing in the latest
> edition of the textbook she and I co-authored.  I'd like to know how others
> are seeing it.
>
> Edith tells me that Dick Veit sent a very interesting message to this list
> about the subjunctive.  I missed it.  Dick, if you see this and can find
> your email, would you mind re-sending?
>
>  Thanks!
>
>
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-- 
John Chorazy
English III Honors and Academic
Pequannock Township High School
973.616.6000

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