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sejpdw
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
Posts: 217
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 4:06 pm Post subject: Subjunctive |
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" Jim and Debbie Jones, whose daughter was killed in a tragic accident last year, are trying to win the legal right choose the sex of their next baby. Pro-life campaigners say that if the Jones succeed, it could lead to babies becoming consumer items."
Isn't " if the Jones succeeded, it could lead..." right expression in this paragraph? In my opinion, the author must have wanted to use subjuctive considering " it could lead..." and the context. What's your opinion? |
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CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
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| Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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First, it should be "the Joneses," not "the Jones." The name is Jones, but more than one Jones is the Joneses.
Second, the sentence is fine with "succeed," but would also be fine with "succeeded." Most people would say "succeed," I believe.
Check the recent Daily Tips on this site's home page for various uses of "could." It is not just the subjunctive.
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