So I have seen usages of “Your will be done” in the context when some higher authority is issuing orders but shouldn’t it be “Your will will be done”? it makes more semantic sense than the former. Answer Like Mr Beadles said, the ‘will’ here is a noun. It’s not an imperative, though, which would … Read more
Help, please. I’ve been pondering on this sentece for half an hour: I was determined to continue until the truth was discovered Leave wordiness aside, does this convey the same meaning as “I was determined to find the truth”? I feel a subjunctive form is needed after until (until the truth were discovered) so as … Read more
A : “Hey pal, I don’t think I can go on anymore. I feel people around me are much greater than me. I feel I’m useless and nobody cares about me.” B : “Don’t worry. It’s okay. Some couldn’t know.” (= there are some who couldn’t understand the true value of you) Does it make … Read more
Yo, is this sentence correct? It’s hard to find a guide that speaks directly to this use of the subjunctive: I realized that this issue needed more active contemplation, were I to find any closure. More simply it’d be: I realized that, were I to find any closure, active contemplation was needed. Answer Only backshifting, … Read more
Many English speakers, especially those fond of classic literature, are familiar with the word lest. Standing in opposition to the modern proclivity for ignoring the subjunctive, lest requires that it be used. She turned off the TV lest the child rouse. The meaning of lest can be expressed with certain expressions that follow a similar … Read more
Copernicus ventured to assert that the earth moved. He could scarcely have astonished and disturbed men more if he had actually set it moving. The word could makes the part in bold sound to me as if it was written in the subjunctive mood, but I don’t understand what that second sentence says. Can you … Read more
I will try to keep it short and simple. How do you answer the question if this was asked as a question in person – “What is your favorite song?” I want to say I have many but if I had to select one, it will be Numb by Linkin Park. So what is the … Read more
I’ve just encountered a seemingly strange paragraph in Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, and I wonder if anyone can give me an explanation: If the boy was here he would wet the coils, he thought. Yes. If the boy were here. If the boy were here. I understand the usage of were in … Read more
Here, I copied a sentence from a book published by Cambridge Press: ”Nusselt number is the ratio of the actual heat transfer to what it would be if there were conduction but no convection.” This may be a simple question for you. But I confused about the ”were” in the subordinate clause and supposed it … Read more
I read there are two purposes of using the subjunctive mood. One of which is to describe an unreal or doubtful condition. Often in a clause beginning with the word “if.” My question is: are there times when we can use the subordinating conjunction “if” without using the subjunctive mood? Answer Sure. You do this … Read more
