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Inverted Conditional for Passive sentences

English Language & Usage Asked by Mai Temp on December 6, 2020

I was wondering what would the inverted version of a passive conditional sentence like the following ones be.

If he were told to do so, he would tell me.

If my car were stolen, I wouldn’t report it.

Are the sentences bellow correct?

Were he to be told to do so, he would tell me.

Were my car to be stolen, I wouldn’t report it.

One Answer

No. All you need to do is drop if and invert, not add to be:

If he were told to do so, he would tell me.

Were he told to do so, he would tell me.

If my car were stolen, I wouldn't report it.

Were my car stolen, I wouldn't report it.

See: Wikipedia: English subjunctive—Inversion

Answered by Tinfoil Hat on December 6, 2020

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