the structure: were a railroad strike to take place I would like you to teach me the grammar about this sentence: ..., believing that the U.S. economic recovery would be threatened were a railroad st

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Mami

the structure: were a railroad strike to take place I would like you to teach me the grammar about this sentence: ..., believing that the U.S. economic recovery would be threatened were a railroad strike to take place. I couldn't find "subject" for "were," and then I guessed the meaning from the context. I though it like this: ..., believing that the U.S. economic recovery would be threatened if a railroad strike were to take place. Is this used the subjunctive mood and inversion? Thank you.

May 3, 2016 2:26 PM

Answers · 3

'Yes' to both of those questions. The construction '...believing that the U.S. economic recovery would be threatened were a railroad strike to take place' is indeed an alternative way of saying '..., believing that the U.S. economic recovery would be threatened if a railroad strike were to take place.' And, yes, it is the subjunctive mood and inversion - the subject is 'a railroad strike' and it follows the subjunctive/conditional form of the verb. Well done for analysing and interpreting this correctly.

May 3, 2016