I was reading a paper back and found that the word ‘were’ seemed to be used as subjunctive.
Here is a part of the context;

A; He starts summer school next week.
B; You said there were two sessions.
    He can spend 3 weeks here with me, then go back for the second session.

A; We were going to look at college then.
B; Do it afterward.

‘were’ in “We were going to look at college then” doesn’t sound like talking about the past action to me.
Am I right?

Ah subjunctive, Where’s saparris when you need him????

LukeJavan8 - 27 August 2009 10:36 AM

Ah subjunctive, Where’s saparris when you need him????

I heard your opinion is just as good.

Why couldn’t you help a English poor guy like me?

You seem a miserly with your knowledge.

You hoard your English richness and wouldn’t let it go or share.

What’s up with that?

We were going to look at college then.

This isn’t subjuntive, and it does suggest a past action in that you’re saying something like, “We were going to look at college then, but we were not able.”

Were used in the subjunctive expresses a condition that is not true: “If I were you [and I am not], I would look at some colleges while you’re here.”

There is an entire thread on the subjunctive under Grammar. Take a look at it and let us kow if you need more help.

Thank you. I think I am haunted by the subjunctive ghost, reading too much into it.

Thank you. I think I am haunted by the subjunctive ghost, reading too much into it.

You say the subjunctive haunts you…

Try reading into participles—like the one you’ve just written. Sleep has been lost over participles. Stomachs have been left unfed. Minds have been pushed to their limits. Tears have been shed. Hair has been lost. Wrinkles have been carved deeply into faces.

And, all the while, participles have laughed in our faces!

It’s a cruel world we live in—a world not fit for weaklings like me, but where do I go, is the question??

I hear that Cancun is nice. You could learn the Spanish rules for participles and the subjunctive.

Or maybe the French, they’ll really bog the imagination.

I hear that Cancun is nice.

That’s an option. If I practiced swimming every day, do you think I could eventually swim to Havana? I don’t smoke, but I probably will deserve a cigar after the swim.

And of all the places on earth, why would you want to swim to Havana? It’s only 90 miles from Miami.  If you’re swimming the oceans, stop in Miami, there’s plenty of Spanish spoken there, its our
national language.

And of all the places on earth, why would you want to swim to Havana? It’s only 90 miles from Miami.  If you’re swimming the oceans, stop in Miami, there’s plenty of Spanish spoken there, its our
national language.

I can’t speak Spanish. Miami would be an exciting place to visit. When thinking of Miami, I picture brightly coloured suits, shades, convertables, sky scrapers on the fringes of beaches, prostitution, drugs, and that’s about it.

Sounds great. hope I make it. Is the Atlantic shark-infested waters? If so, I may need to take my spear… Those great whites terrify me.

The Atantic coast is not know for its sharks, but Miami has two-legged ones.

Poker Sharks?

All kinds. Not a bucolic place, Miami.

And he lives by Gaffney, and talks about bucolic.  I never had any trouble any time I visited Miami.

Ever heard of CSI Gaffney?