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.
2016年5月3日 14:26
解答 · 3
2
'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.
2016年5月3日
Learning English
2016年5月3日
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