At 02:58 PM 3/21/99 -0600, Ranma Al'Thor wrote:

Just to be picky, although I admit I'm not gramarian, 

Not a claim I would make, either...

I thought the
subjunctive represented 'opinion' or 'conditionalness', rather than
necessarily expressing contrariness to fact.

Actually, it's pretty much both: it has to be a condition or supposition
 _and_ it has to be imaginary or false (or otherwise doubtful -- hence 
the 'contrary to fact').  And unlike the indicative, it is always in a 
dependent clause.

That's why the 'if black were white' example works: black and white are 
different; the supposition is false.  'If Jinnai were sane...'

But if the condition is (probably) true, you should use the indicative 
(heh).  So if Ranma said, 'If I _was_ a pervert...,' Akane would have 
reason to feel justified in her accusations, and Nodoka would probably 
approve of whatever he did.


Other uses of the subjunctive include expressing a wish or requirement.


Hmmm... here's a URL that has some more stuff on this odd verb mood:

http://webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/grammar/verbs.htm#subjunctive


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