Answer: The Subjunctive Mode

[whymzycal]

sg_betty, mamaffy, and visiblemarket want to know: what is the subjunctive tense, and how is it used? ("If only it was true" vs "If only it were true."')

Comments

[imlikat]

Thanks for this! I was just wondering about this the other day, and I'm glad it's cleared up for me now :D

[whymzycal]

You're most welcome! I'm glad this is helpful.

[azraqey]

thank you for this~! I've been cleared. ^^

[whymzycal]

You're very welcome!

[pronker]

Excellent post on the dwindling use of the subjunctive. Another example: "If I Were A Rich Man."

[whymzycal]

Thanks! And yeah, that's a great example. Now I wish I'd included it, hee!

[xpaperplanex]

Very helpful, thank you. I wrote a fic titled If I Were... (a dinosaur), and spent ages before posting it wondering if I had it right.

[whymzycal]

You're welcome! You absolutely had the title right, yeah. And hee, dinosaurs -- who doesn't love those?

[achacunsagloire]

Thanks for clearing this up!

[whymzycal]

You're very welcome! Glad to be of help.