why use “isn't” in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?
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Why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?why English users do not use "weren't" instead of "isn't"?
grammar language-formation
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
add a comment |
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Why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?why English users do not use "weren't" instead of "isn't"?
grammar language-formation
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
1
Are you thinking that the "If is [isn't]... I would..." requires the subjunctive?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
3
It's a tense issue. Weren't is past tense and the conversation is about the present. If your question is about the subjunctive, it needs to be rephrased.
– bib
Sep 3 '13 at 1:08
That was the first thought I had about why the question came up. I may be wrong.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:10
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?why English users do not use "weren't" instead of "isn't"?
grammar language-formation
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
Why use "isn't" in the sentence "if it isn't too much trouble, i'd love a cup of coffee?why English users do not use "weren't" instead of "isn't"?
grammar language-formation
grammar language-formation
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
asked Sep 3 '13 at 0:55
Diansonn
1295717
1295717
1
Are you thinking that the "If is [isn't]... I would..." requires the subjunctive?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
3
It's a tense issue. Weren't is past tense and the conversation is about the present. If your question is about the subjunctive, it needs to be rephrased.
– bib
Sep 3 '13 at 1:08
That was the first thought I had about why the question came up. I may be wrong.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:10
add a comment |
1
Are you thinking that the "If is [isn't]... I would..." requires the subjunctive?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
3
It's a tense issue. Weren't is past tense and the conversation is about the present. If your question is about the subjunctive, it needs to be rephrased.
– bib
Sep 3 '13 at 1:08
That was the first thought I had about why the question came up. I may be wrong.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:10
1
1
Are you thinking that the "If is [isn't]... I would..." requires the subjunctive?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
Are you thinking that the "If is [isn't]... I would..." requires the subjunctive?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
3
3
It's a tense issue. Weren't is past tense and the conversation is about the present. If your question is about the subjunctive, it needs to be rephrased.
– bib
Sep 3 '13 at 1:08
It's a tense issue. Weren't is past tense and the conversation is about the present. If your question is about the subjunctive, it needs to be rephrased.
– bib
Sep 3 '13 at 1:08
That was the first thought I had about why the question came up. I may be wrong.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:10
That was the first thought I had about why the question came up. I may be wrong.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:10
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
We do use "weren't", when it is in the past:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it weren't too much trouble.
The difference is in the tense of the statement being made. If the response above was instead a direct quote, it would read like this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would if it isn't too much trouble."
The first case is a description of a past event, and uses the past tense; the second is in the present and uses the present tense.
Update:
However, if your question is about the use of the subjunctive as suggested in comments, then the phrasing would resemble this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would, if it weren't that my diet forbids caffeine."
Admittedly that last sentence is a bit contrived, but hopefully illustrates the difference.
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
1
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
|
show 9 more comments
up vote
-1
down vote
Can you use instead and isn't in a sentence?
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
We do use "weren't", when it is in the past:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it weren't too much trouble.
The difference is in the tense of the statement being made. If the response above was instead a direct quote, it would read like this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would if it isn't too much trouble."
The first case is a description of a past event, and uses the past tense; the second is in the present and uses the present tense.
Update:
However, if your question is about the use of the subjunctive as suggested in comments, then the phrasing would resemble this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would, if it weren't that my diet forbids caffeine."
Admittedly that last sentence is a bit contrived, but hopefully illustrates the difference.
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
1
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
|
show 9 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
We do use "weren't", when it is in the past:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it weren't too much trouble.
The difference is in the tense of the statement being made. If the response above was instead a direct quote, it would read like this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would if it isn't too much trouble."
The first case is a description of a past event, and uses the past tense; the second is in the present and uses the present tense.
Update:
However, if your question is about the use of the subjunctive as suggested in comments, then the phrasing would resemble this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would, if it weren't that my diet forbids caffeine."
Admittedly that last sentence is a bit contrived, but hopefully illustrates the difference.
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
1
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
|
show 9 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
We do use "weren't", when it is in the past:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it weren't too much trouble.
The difference is in the tense of the statement being made. If the response above was instead a direct quote, it would read like this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would if it isn't too much trouble."
The first case is a description of a past event, and uses the past tense; the second is in the present and uses the present tense.
Update:
However, if your question is about the use of the subjunctive as suggested in comments, then the phrasing would resemble this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would, if it weren't that my diet forbids caffeine."
Admittedly that last sentence is a bit contrived, but hopefully illustrates the difference.
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
We do use "weren't", when it is in the past:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it weren't too much trouble.
The difference is in the tense of the statement being made. If the response above was instead a direct quote, it would read like this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would if it isn't too much trouble."
The first case is a description of a past event, and uses the past tense; the second is in the present and uses the present tense.
Update:
However, if your question is about the use of the subjunctive as suggested in comments, then the phrasing would resemble this:
He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied "I would, if it weren't that my diet forbids caffeine."
Admittedly that last sentence is a bit contrived, but hopefully illustrates the difference.
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
edited Sep 3 '13 at 1:23
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
answered Sep 3 '13 at 0:59
Pieter Geerkens
2,488816
2,488816
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
1
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
|
show 9 more comments
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
1
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
Isn't this a question about using the subjunctive? "I would ... if it weren't for ..."?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:02
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
@Chap: I don't believe so. Should we ask OP for clarification? It still seems to me that the tense of the description is controlling the tense of the wording.
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:03
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
yes, I think it may be the "if" that's relevant here.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:05
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
@Chap: I am not following your reasoning. What am I missing?
– Pieter Geerkens
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
1
1
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
I don't think your weren't is correct. It ought to be: He asked me yesterday if I'd like a cup of coffee, and I replied that I would if it wasn't too much trouble.
– Jim
Sep 3 '13 at 1:37
|
show 9 more comments
up vote
-1
down vote
Can you use instead and isn't in a sentence?
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
Can you use instead and isn't in a sentence?
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
-1
down vote
up vote
-1
down vote
Can you use instead and isn't in a sentence?
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Can you use instead and isn't in a sentence?
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
answered 2 hours ago
Layla Watson
1
1
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Layla Watson is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
1
1
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
This does not answer the question.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 hours ago
add a comment |
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1
Are you thinking that the "If is [isn't]... I would..." requires the subjunctive?
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:06
3
It's a tense issue. Weren't is past tense and the conversation is about the present. If your question is about the subjunctive, it needs to be rephrased.
– bib
Sep 3 '13 at 1:08
That was the first thought I had about why the question came up. I may be wrong.
– Chap
Sep 3 '13 at 1:10