English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Handling Subjunctives
It’s time we go home (nonstandard).
It’s time we went home (standard).
Note: If ‘to’ follows “it’s time”, the verb will not be in the past:
It’s time to go home (standard).
I would rather you go tomorrow (nonstandard).
I would rather you went tomorrow (standard).
Supposing you are God, it won’t rain (nonstandard).
Supposing you were God, it won’t rain (standard).
GAB
Thanks for this sir.
Why is the second clause not having a verb in past form?
I think it should rather be:
Supposing you were God,it wouldn’t rain.
(Second conditional).
Many thanks for your frequent updates on the dynamics of good expression. Sir, don’t you think when the subjunctive ‘supposing’ is used, it should attract a past tense of a very in the main clause? Thank you in anticipation for your response.