Posted: Mar 13, 2019 1:24 am
“If I were president, I would legalize it.”
The subjunctive form of the verb in your “type three” conditional statements use the third person plural form of the verb. It can also omit the “if” if the verb is placed first and subject second
“Were I president, I would legalize it.”
“Had I a million dollars, I would buy it.”
English has a second subjunctive form that is derived from the verb’s uninflected form. Whereas the form that derives from the past tense is used for counter factual statements, the form the derives from the infinitive form expresses a requirement, preference, or necessary condition of its subordinate clause. This form is also used in imperative statements.
“I prefer that it remain a secret”
“He was running, lest the policeman catch him”
“The law requires that be prosecuted only after indictment by grand jury”
note in these examples the uninflected verb with a singular subject.
The subjunctive form of the verb in your “type three” conditional statements use the third person plural form of the verb. It can also omit the “if” if the verb is placed first and subject second
“Were I president, I would legalize it.”
“Had I a million dollars, I would buy it.”
English has a second subjunctive form that is derived from the verb’s uninflected form. Whereas the form that derives from the past tense is used for counter factual statements, the form the derives from the infinitive form expresses a requirement, preference, or necessary condition of its subordinate clause. This form is also used in imperative statements.
“I prefer that it remain a secret”
“He was running, lest the policeman catch him”
“The law requires that be prosecuted only after indictment by grand jury”
note in these examples the uninflected verb with a singular subject.