pearljiandani wrote:
souvik101990 wrote:
vards wrote:
If the ice of Greenland and Antarctica were to melt, the sea level would rise at least 100 feet or more.
A. If the ice of Greenland and Antarctica were to melt, the sea level would rise at least 100 feet or more
B. Were the ice of Greenland and Antarctica to melt, the sea level would rise at least 100 feet.
C. Was the ice of Greenland and Antarctica to melt, the sea level woudl rise at least 100 feet or more.
D. If the ice of Greenland and Antarctica was melting, the sea level would rise at least 100 feet.
E. Should the ice of Greenland and Antarctica melt, the sea level would rise at least 100 feet or more.
This is a case of hypothetical/conditional subjunctive. That means "if something were to happen, other thing would happen"
So I need "were"
So I have A and B.
A is wrong because at least 100 feet or more is quite redundant.
B it is.
Hope this helps.
Hi
souvik101990,
Can you please explain the rules around the use of "were" as a hypothetical/conditional subjunctive. Does it always have to be followed by would+verb or would have + verb? Also, how is this different from a normal if then construction where "were" is used?
Hello, although this isn’t addressed to me but I’ll try and share my thoughts in the hope that some of them may clear your doubts
First, subjunctive is used for hypothetical situations aka situations which are complete theory.
Eg: If I were on the GMAC committee, I would remove subjunctive from SC.
Now the above is completely hypothetical. Hence the “if” clauses uses the plural verb “were” and since this hypothetical is being talked today, therefore, the “then” clause will use simple conditional future aka “would”
Now say the conditional is not really theory, it could be very well positive, in that case, we don’t use subjunctive but rather indicative construct. And the tenses revert to normal rules of SV agreement.
Eg: If the members of GMAC committee decide, subjunctive will be dropped from the syllabi
Note in this case, the subject of “if” clause is plural aka “members of..committee” and hence takes the plural verb “decide”.
The “then” clause takes the simple future tense “will”.
Now you would ask why is this different from subjunctive? Well because we aren’t really talking theory, members can very well take that decision someday (I hope not - subjunctives are easy to master!). It’s more a realistic conditional sentence than theoretical. Hence, the indicative in second sentence and subjunctive (completely theory / imaginative) in the first example.
Lastly, “would have” is simply used when you’re making prediction about a past event and its effect, which is also in the past.
Eg: “If England had won the series 2-1 against India, it would have qualified for WTC finals” (theoretical aka subjunctive)
“If John had helped her, she would be much better today” (we are making it almost as a statement of fact, hence indicative in past, hence the “then” clause doesn’t use “would have”).
Hope I’ve been able to help!
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