I'd like to ask the American audience about this. I've realised how people on the other forum I take part care about the subjunctive.
It's important that she go now.
My question: Is it that used by Americans or is it kind of dying out?
Thanks in advance.
José
Subjunctive
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Re: Subjunctive
Yes. (It's used by Americans, but it might be one of those things that's used by more educated speakers and is dying out.)Metamorfose wrote:I'd like to ask the American audience about this. I've realised how people on the other forum I take part care about the subjunctive.
It's important that she go now.
My question: Is it that used by Americans or is it kind of dying out?
Thanks in advance.
José
Although I *think* I would choose the way you've stated it, I might put it in entirely different words and avoid it altogether. ("I think it's important for her to go." or "She should go." or something)
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Andrew Patterson
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Lorikeet wrote:
I keep hearing that the present subjunctive is more common in US than UK English, maybe but British person would bat an eyelid if somebody used the present subjunctive, it would sound normal and natural to any British speaker.
I can only imagine that around the time of the enlightenment, one type of subjunctive started to disappear namely may-deletion:
eg (May) God save the Queen!
Once freely used, it can only be used in fossilised expressions today.
1) The present subjunctive with should-deletion:
eg It is imperative that something (should) be done about this!
Is alive and kicking throughout the English-speaking world and I can see no sign of its decline.
1) The Past subjunctive
eg I'd rather you didn't do that.
Is also just as commonly used, perhaps "If I was you." just might be replacing "If I were you."
Sb has to do a corpus study on the subjunctive. (Maybe sb already has.) I hear it said time and time again that the subjunctive is dying out and I just don't see it in either US or UK English.It's used by Americans, but it might be one of those things that's used by more educated speakers and is dying out.
I keep hearing that the present subjunctive is more common in US than UK English, maybe but British person would bat an eyelid if somebody used the present subjunctive, it would sound normal and natural to any British speaker.
I can only imagine that around the time of the enlightenment, one type of subjunctive started to disappear namely may-deletion:
eg (May) God save the Queen!
Once freely used, it can only be used in fossilised expressions today.
1) The present subjunctive with should-deletion:
eg It is imperative that something (should) be done about this!
Is alive and kicking throughout the English-speaking world and I can see no sign of its decline.
1) The Past subjunctive
eg I'd rather you didn't do that.
Is also just as commonly used, perhaps "If I was you." just might be replacing "If I were you."