Do you use the subjonctive in English? \ stacker news ~culture

170 sats \ 9 comments \ @south_korea_ln 27 Mar culture

As a non-native English speaker who was taught to use the subjunctive by my teacher back in the day, I wonder how many of you actually use it.

E.g. do you usually say

If I were a millionaire, I would travel the world. (subjunctive)

If I was a millionaire, I would travel the world. (no subjunctive)

For the record, both are accepted these days. I'm more interested about its actual use.

Subjunctive - native English speaker46.7%

No subjunctive - native English speaker26.7%

Subjunctive - non-native20.0%

No subjunctive - non-native6.7%

15 votes \ poll ended

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21 sats \ 1 reply \ @Signal312 27 Mar

I do, actually. But depending on who I'm with, it feels a little hoity-toity.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Undisciplined 27 Mar

Agree

100 sats \ 2 replies \ @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears 27 Mar

Subjunctive, but I can't honestly recall if it's because I'm a native speaker, or because it was taught in elementary school and became instinct.

21 sats \ 1 reply \ @south_korea_ln OP 27 Mar

The reason I'm asking is that have the impression that more often than not I notice native speakers not using it. But it's maybe confirmation bias as I probably don't get triggered when native speakers do use it.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears 27 Mar

Oh yeah, I know a lot of native English speakers absolutely don't use the subjunctive, or use it almost randomly. I think I notice it myself more when I'm reading than when I'm having a conversation, to be honest (probably because speaking is more informal and grammar rules get broken more often in speech in general).

21 sats \ 2 replies \ @south_korea_ln OP 27 Mar

I just noticed that one cannot use markdown in the title it seems...

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @StillStackinAfterAllTheseYears 27 Mar

Yeah, found this out a couple of days ago, but didn't notice until the edit window had expired: #479400

21 sats \ 0 replies \ @south_korea_ln OP 27 Mar

I noticed before the edit window expired. Wanted to write

Do you use the subjunctive in English?

to give it the proper nuance. Not that important :)

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @erict875 27 Mar

What is this? Black magic? 😅