If there's no

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Is ''If there's no XXX (the name of a famous novelist who is dead now)...?'' correct?

I think it should be ''were''.

If there were no XXX, what would...

 

[teechar]

Please provide a full sentence for us to consider. If you don't want to reveal the name of that novelist, use another surname instead.

 

[Untaught88]

If there's no Iqbal, what would happen?

 

[teechar]

It's possible.
Note that "were" would be in the subjunctive.

 

[Untaught88]

He's dead now. Is it still possible?

 

[Tarheel]

He's dead now. Is it still possible?

No, because now that he's dead there is no more Iqbal. Therefore, that conditional doesn't make sense anymore.

 

[Barb_D]

Do you mean something like this?
If there had never been an Iqbal, how would things be different?

 

[teechar]

No.

Edit: This post was in response to Post #5.