[Gllug] plurals

[Pete Ryland]

On Thu, Jun 19, 2003 at 07:58:01PM +0100, Dylan wrote:
> On Thursday 19 June 2003 19:52, Jack Bertram wrote:
> > * Dylan <dylan at dylan.me.uk> [030619 19:46]:
> > > Due to the general and specific characteristics of the English verb
> > > system, only BE and HAVE can be used subjunctively, and the form for
> > > HAVE is _had_, hence we don't notice its use.
> >
> > Not quite true - e.g.,
> >
> > If he delight in him, let him deliver him
> >
> > (from the Messiah) is a good example of the subjunctive in the third
> > person.  The third person singular subjunctive looks the same as the
> > indicative but doesn't have the trailing "s".  It can be used in any of
> > the constructions you describe.
> 
> Indeed, but Handel is hardly current ussage, is it, even when it was
> written it was archaic.

Nowadays, the subjunctive form is the same as the past, so we would now
write:

If he delighted in him, let him deliver him.

Just like:

If I was going to the shops, I'd bring you back some chocolate.

Pete

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