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Mehrdad
Does subjunctive mood makes the second conditional more formal?
If I was a tree,I would be alone. (Does it sound less formal than: If I were a tree,I would be alone)
I have been thought to use 'were' always in the second conditional.
But nowadays I hear that the use of 'was' is more common than 'were'
I am confused between the use of 'was' and 'were'.....
Aug 21, 2019 7:43 PM
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Answers · 6
Yes. It is more formal. There have previous discussions of Americans (mostly) using the second conditional with past subjunctive and British (mostly) using the second conditional with the simple past, but switching to the subjunctive for formal situations.
Here is a related discussion:
https://classic.italki.com/question/475620
And here is a multi-topic discussion about American and British English:
https://www.italki.com/discussion/170637
[excerpt]
Present subjunctive (for possibility / indirect command, etc.) (“American” usage is considered more standard, so British speakers may follow it more in formal situations):
US: It’s important that he study tomorrow. (=it’s important for him to study tomorrow.)
UK: It’s important that he studies tomorrow.
Past subjunctive (unreal present conditional):
US: If that were true, it would be enough.
UK: If that was true, it would be enough.
August 21, 2019
If I were............................( correct structure )
If I was .............................( incorrect structure )
August 22, 2019
