sviste
21. May, 2012 
3 Comments
sono un Vs. abbonato alla rivista Speak Up e ho notato delle sviste piuttosto notevoli di grammatica nella rubrica “Speak Up Explains” sul numero 325 della rivista (aprile 2012) alle pagine 11 e 43.
– l’inglese è una lingua fonetica e quindi il fatto che una parola venga scritta in un certo modo non ha alcun significato, ma la pronuncia e l’accento vanno controllati sul dizionario che riporta i simboli fonetici
che corrispondono a quella particolare parola. Le doppie “cc” in inglese non si pronunciano sempre “ks”, come in
“access”. Ad es. “occasion” e “accuse” si pronunciano in maniera differente da “access” o “accept”. (v. pag 11).
– a pag. 43 sostenete che chi sta parlando non sa adoperare il modo verbale congiuntivo. In realtà sta semplicemente formando una frase condizionale ipotetica con una sintassi perfetta!
realtà: if you go (present simple), I will go too.
possibilità: if you went (past simple), I would go too.
irrealtà: If you had gone (past perfetct), I would have gone too.
Si dice “it was” (past simple) e non “it were”!
If it wasn’t like that, it would be more remarkable (esempio di limpida
sintassi per il periodo ipotetico / frase condizionale).
Roberto
Le rispondono gli esperti che hanno scritto le note a cui lei si riferisce.
Punto 1. Le devo dare ragione per quanto riguarda la nota sulla pronuncia della doppia ‘c’, effettivamente potrebbe creare confusione. La doppia ‘c’ si pronuncia /ks/ dopo la ‘e’ e la ‘i’: accent /ˈæksent/ accento, accidental /ˌæksɪˈdentl/ accidentale. Negli altri casi, come quelli da lei menzionati nella sua email, il suono è quello di una ‘c’ dura come in casa /’kasa/. (G.W.)
Punto 2. The phrase “If I were” is an example of the subjunctive. As we tried to explain, the subjunctive has largely fallen into disuse in English, but it still lives on in certain phrases such as this one. We disagree with your claim that “If I was” is correct and that “If I were” is wrong. Technically, “If I were” is correct, but is now considered a little archaic, while “If I was” is technically wrong, but it has gained acceptability with the passage of time. Both forms may be used and it is a question of taste which one you prefer. As this example shows, grammar rules in English are often less precise than those in Italian. And, as we have often said, when a native English speaker makes a grammatical mistake in conversation it is not viewed as a sign of embarrassing ignorance in the same way that it is in Italian! (M.W.)
Dear Sir or Madam,
I said that “if it was” is correct not “if I was”. Besides, “if I were you” is idiomatic, that’s all.
Please, read my e-mail carefully.
Regards, Roberto.
> Si dice “it was” (past simple) e non “it were”!
> If it wasn’t like that, it would be more remarkable (esempio di limpida
> sintassi per il periodo ipotetico / frase condizionale).
Dear Roberto,
Thanks. We realise that you are making a distinction between “If I were” and “If it were” but both are in fact examples of the subjunctive (which, as we have said, has largely fallen into disuse in English). According to one theory, the phrase “If it was” expresses a “possible” condition, while “If it were” expresses an “impossible” one, but even so this does not change the fact that “If it were” (like “If I were”) is a subjunctive and not an idiomatic expression.
We hope this helps. Our philosophy is that a foreign language is learnt by having the confidence to speak and write it, rather than getting involved in academic debates about grammar. Most English mother-tongue speakers have no idea about this stuff, but it doesn’t prevent them from speaking the language correctly.
Dear Sir or Madam,
you are right, there is a subjunctive form in English even for ordinary verbs. Also, it is common to make use of a subjunctive form after “lest”.
eg. Our advice is that the company invest in new equipment.
We felt it desirable that he not leave school before eighteen.
I recommended that you move to another office.
The government must act LEST the problem of poverty grow worse.
Ref.: Michael Swan, “Practical English Usage” (3rd ed).
Best Regards
Roberto