0

I am wondering whether I should use subjunctive mood in the dependent clause in the following example. Is there a rule for sentences like this? Or they just have different meanings?


Example:

There is a team that lost the championship. I think they should have hired me as a coach. Which one of the below sentences should I say?

1 (without subjunctive mood, just simple past, "could win")

"The team should have hired me as the coach so that they could win the championship."

2 (with subjunctive mood, "could have won")

"The team should have hired me as the coach so that they could have won the championship."

|improve this question
  • Where did you get the idea this is subjunctive? could win is conditional and could have won is past conditional. – Lambie Sep 19 at 15:22
  • Thank you for your answer. Actually, I am not quite sure what it is myself. I know "could have" can express a counterfactual idea in the past, but I am not sure whether "could win" can give the same idea also. That is why I ask the question. If you have time, could you shed some light on this one, thanks. – vincentlin Sep 19 at 16:55
1

1) so they could win the championship=it has not been played yet, future idea

2) so they could have won the championship=it has been played and they lost, past

present and past conditional, in 1) and 2) respectively

Please note: could win is not a past tense.

It is the present conditional tense: I could win, if I tried. The past of it is: I could have won if I had tried.

could win is not past, it is about a possibility.

  • I can win today. present tense
  • I could win tomorrow if I make a big effort. conditional tense, the idea is future.

This can be grasped if you read this:

  • I could win [it is a possibility] with a little help but I won't win because no one is helping me.
|improve this answer
  • So in the context given, I should use 2), right? Because the team lost. – vincentlin Sep 19 at 16:51
  • Yes, if the team has already played and lost you use the past conditional. – Lambie Sep 19 at 17:04

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.