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."

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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