[etni] Re: A grammar question

    Although the use of do and will in this example does not seem to be
wrong, I agree with the teacher who opined that the right answer is:
?I don't intend to lend him any money. If I did, he would waste it all again.? 
    The subjunctive mood is a characteristic of a verb that expresses a wish
or a condition contrary to fact. The subjunctive is now rarely used except
in the following instances. 
  If, As If, and As Though Clauses
    Use the subjunctive in clauses that begin with if, as if, and as though
if the wish or condition expressed could never come to pass. If there
is a possibility, however remote, that the wish or condition could
become fact, use the indicative instead. 
      Subjunctive: If I were a king,?
Indicative: If I was promoted,? 
  That Clauses
    Use the subjunctive in clauses that begin with the word that and
include verbs that express commands, requests, or requirements. 
  The prisoner insisted that his demands be met.
    Because the subjunctive is heard infrequently in speech, such
constructions may seem overly formal in some contexts. For a
more informal tone, rephrase the sentence with a verb in the
indicative mood.
   
  The prisoner insisted that they meet his demands.
   
  Expressions with the Subjunctive
  Some common expressions make use of the subjunctive mood, including:
   
  as it were
  be that as it may
  come what may
  far be it from me
  so be it
   
  It is mentioned in the usage note for the word ?if? in The American Heritage 
Dictionary that according to the traditional rule, the subjunctive should be 
used to describe an occurrence that is presupposed to be contrary to fact, as 
in if I were ten years younger or if Napoleon had won at Waterloo. The main 
verb of such a sentence must then contain the modal verb would or (less 
frequently) should: If America were still a British colony, we would have an 
anthem that human voices could sing. If I were the President, I should (or 
would) declare November 1 a national holiday. 
   
  When the situation described by the if clause is not presupposed to be false, 
however, that clause must contain an indicative verb, and the choice of verb in 
the main clause will depend on the intended meaning: If Hamlet was really 
written by Marlowe, as many have argued, then we have underestimated Marlowe's 
genius. If Kevin was out all day, then it makes sense that he couldn't answer 
the phone. 
   
  Note also that the presence of the modal verb would in the main clause should 
not be taken as a sign that the verb in the if clause must be in the 
subjunctive, if the content of that clause is not presupposed to be false: If I 
was (not were) to accept their offer?which I'm still considering?I would have 
to start the new job on May 2. He would always call her from the office if he 
was (not were) going to be late for dinner.· 
   
  Again according to the traditional rule, the subjunctive is not correctly 
used following verbs such as ask or wonder in if clauses that express indirect 
questions, even if the content of the question is presumed to be contrary to 
fact: We wondered if dinner was (not were) included in the room price. Some of 
the people we met even asked us if California was (not were) an island.· 
   
  With all deference to the traditional rules governing the use of the 
subjunctive, it should be noted that a survey of the prose of reputable writers 
over the past 200 years would reveal a persistent tendency to use the 
indicative was where the traditional rule would require the subjunctive were. A 
sentence beginning If I was the only boy in the world, while not strictly 
correct, is wholly unremarkable. But the corresponding practice of using the 
subjunctive in place of the indicative may be labeled a hypercorrection. · In 
spoken English there is a growing tendency to use would have in place of the 
subjunctive in contrary-to-fact clauses, as in if I would have been the 
President, but this usage is still widely considered.
   Shah N. Khan
  

Fruma Cohen <fruma2000@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: We came across this sentence and had 
difficulty explaining the the correct 
answer. Maybe someone can help me ?

We were teaching condition I and condition II.  The student had to complete 
the second sentence:

I don't intend to lend him any money.
If I ________________(do),  he ______________(waste) it all again.

Most of us said the answers are "  do" and  "will waste"  making it a 
condition I sentence because of the "again"  showing that it refers  to the 
future.

One teacher said it should be  "did" and "would waste"  making it a 
condition II sentence because it is unreal because the speaker does NOT 
intend to lend the money.

How would you answer and more importantly-- how would you explain the 
answer?

Thank you   Fruma

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