Rather than bury it away in Fragments & Feedback, I thought I'd start a topic here on the use of the subjunctive mood.I'm not an expert on all aspects of the subjunctive -- if I were, I'd explain all of it -- but there's one part I feel I understand pretty well.
If you have a counterfactual hypothetical, always use the subjunctive.
What is a counterfactual hypothetical? It's a hypothesis known to be false (at least from the speaker's point of view.) The phrase I use to remember is "If I were a rich man..."
"I wish I were taller." (Obviously, I am not taller, or I would not wish it.)
"If I were you..." (I am not you.)
Now, in hypotheticals that are not known to be false, you do not have to use the subjunctive.
"Even if he was rich, he's not any more." (He might have been rich in the past, so it's not a counterfactual hypothetical.)
To show the difference:
"If she were hiding in the woods, we would see her." (She is not hiding in the woods. Counterfactual hypothetical.)
"If she is hiding in the woods, we will see her." (She may or may not be hiding in the woods. Not a counterfactual hypothetical.)
[This message has been edited by EricJamesStone (edited May 26, 2004).]