Ask-A-Linguist Message Details
| Subject: | Subjunctive vs. indicative following 'if'-clauses in English |
|---|---|
| Question: |
To whom it may concern: I came across the following graphic on Facebook (https://fbcdn- sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak- snc6/208097_505755036104309_1918646052_n.jpg) and became curious about whether or not there are any systematic studies that document whether English speakers consistently maintain the distinction between the subjunctive and the indicative in clauses starting with 'if'. Is this graphic simply illustrating a prescriptive rule, and if not, is this perhaps dialect-specific? Any leads on scholars who have worked on this question would be greatly appreciated! Thank you, Calvin Cheng |
| From: | Calvin Cheng |
| Date: | 05-Oct-2012 |
| Replies: |
|
