Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Would you please explain this sturcture to me? What does "would that" mean exactly and why does it need the subjunctive?

My mother would know what to do. Oh, would that she WERE here with us now !

All the best,
Hela

[MrPedantic]

Hello Hela

1. Would that she WERE here with us now!

"Would that...!" is an ellipsis for "I would that...!". It expresses a wish, in the form of an ejaculation; it's the equivalent of "I wish that...!", or "If only...!".

The subjunctive in #1 expresses counterfactuality; it's the "were" that we find in:

2. If only she were here with us now, (the situation would be much better).

Bye
MrP

[hela]

Thank you MrP

[LucentShade]

Don't worry about hearing "would that" from native speakers in ordinary conversation -- it's an archaic expression used in formal speech and older literature, and most people will use the expressions that MrP mentioned, "I wish that..." or "If only..."

[MrPedantic]

Yes indeed. You would probably only hear it now in jocular use, or from an incorrigible drama queen.

MrP