Why subjunctive?

[Bill Palmer]

I would use the subjunctive after "if", in a contrary-to-fact utterance,
e.g. "If I were the president".

Since apparently the U.S. Senate is a place where more comedy actually  is
needed, I'd say, "If there ever was..."

However, maybe I'm conforming to out of date norms.

Bill P


----- Original Message -----
From: <ronbutters at AOL.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 9:25 AM
Subject: Re: Why subjunctive?


> ---------------------- Information from the mail
> header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       ronbutters at AOL.COM
> Subject:      Re: Why subjunctive?
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Why not?
> ------Original Message------
> From: Bill Palmer
> Sender: ADS-L
> To: ADS-L
> ReplyTo: ADS-L
> Subject: [ADS-L] Why subjunctive?
> Sent: Aug 12, 2010 5:45 AM
>
> The opening sentence of an opinion piece
> in today's NYT:
>
> If ever there were a place in need of more comedy, and less comity, it's
> the U.S. Senate.
>
>
> Bill Palmer
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>
> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.441 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3066 - Release Date: 08/12/10
06:34:00

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org