Inversion pattern in conditional sentences

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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Rasoul
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Inversion pattern in conditional sentences

Post by Rasoul »

When we say :
Were I to go to the party, I would buy new clothes.
Why we couldn't use am instead of were?
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Alan
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Re: Inversion pattern in conditional sentences

Post by Alan »

Because this inverted construction, an unreal hypothetical conditional, exists only in the past subjunctive.
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