In the off-chance that some authors find it useful, the best quick summary I've read of the different kinds of conditional statements in English: If I Had a Million Dollars part 1. Part 2 will be posted next Wednesday.
In the off-chance that some authors find it useful, the best quick summary I've read of the different kinds of conditional statements in English: If I Had a Million Dollars part 1. Part 2 will be posted next Wednesday.
I never knew there was a name for that. But I guess there's a name for every grammar rule. In most cases I don't know the rule; I just know what sounds right.
There is also the plural verb used with the singular pronoun in a conditional usage: "If I were a rich man ..."
the plural verb used with the singular pronoun in a conditional usage: "If I were a rich man ..."
The "were" in that sentence is not a plural, but subjunctive.
English has verbs with moods ranging from commanding to questioning and beyond. The mood of the verb "to be" when you use the phrase "I were" is called the subjunctive mood, and you use it when you're talking about something that isn't true or you're being wishful.
"I were" is used when you are talking about something that isn't true or when you wish something was true. "I was" is for things that could have happened in the past or now.