Originally Posted by riverkid
There are many ways to express the subjunctive mood and as it happens many of them are indicative forms.
Hello again, my friend.
Yes, it does express the subjunctive mood. But it isn't a subjunctive form. Maybe we can clear this up if we refer to my example #5, which seems to have been deleted.
5. If I was Clark, I would be able to speak Russian.
'was' is not a subjunctive form yet it clearly expresses a subjunctive idea, wouldn't you agree? It expresses a meaning that is identical to,
If I were Clark, ...
Both entail that "I am not Clark". Should we call "If I was Clark" a subjunctive? The point is that, for English, the subjunctive, form wise, is no big deal. We could lose the few remaining forms and the English language and its speakers would suffer not at all.
What we couldn't afford to lose, [and of course, we shan't], is the subjunctive mood, which is expressible in many ways that aren't strictly subjunctive in form.
So while the vast majority of subjunctive forms have been lost, and likely will continue to be lost, the subjunctive mood hasn't been, and won't be lost.
riverkid wrote:
I agree. Do you consider the American Heritage Dictionary to be full of dogma?
The Earth isn't flat? :shock: Just you wait 'til I google up a few sites. I'll show you!! ;-)
Indubitably!