Is it correct to invert, “If I could fly, I would …” into, “Could I fly, I would …?”
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}
I know that, "If he should ask about me, ..." can be inverted into, "Should he ask about me, ..." But I am not sure if it works to invert, "If I could fly, I would ..." into, "Could I fly, I would ...?"
Thank you.
subjunctive-mood
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
add a comment |
I know that, "If he should ask about me, ..." can be inverted into, "Should he ask about me, ..." But I am not sure if it works to invert, "If I could fly, I would ..." into, "Could I fly, I would ...?"
Thank you.
subjunctive-mood
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
1
It's a bit quaint, but legit.
– Hot Licks
May 22 at 12:00
'Could I but fly, I would' sounds like the authentic quaint version.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 22 at 13:33
add a comment |
I know that, "If he should ask about me, ..." can be inverted into, "Should he ask about me, ..." But I am not sure if it works to invert, "If I could fly, I would ..." into, "Could I fly, I would ...?"
Thank you.
subjunctive-mood
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
I know that, "If he should ask about me, ..." can be inverted into, "Should he ask about me, ..." But I am not sure if it works to invert, "If I could fly, I would ..." into, "Could I fly, I would ...?"
Thank you.
subjunctive-mood
subjunctive-mood
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
asked May 22 at 11:29
KevinKevin
161 bronze badge
161 bronze badge
1
It's a bit quaint, but legit.
– Hot Licks
May 22 at 12:00
'Could I but fly, I would' sounds like the authentic quaint version.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 22 at 13:33
add a comment |
1
It's a bit quaint, but legit.
– Hot Licks
May 22 at 12:00
'Could I but fly, I would' sounds like the authentic quaint version.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 22 at 13:33
1
1
It's a bit quaint, but legit.
– Hot Licks
May 22 at 12:00
It's a bit quaint, but legit.
– Hot Licks
May 22 at 12:00
'Could I but fly, I would' sounds like the authentic quaint version.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 22 at 13:33
'Could I but fly, I would' sounds like the authentic quaint version.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 22 at 13:33
add a comment |
0
active
oldest
votes
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f499322%2fis-it-correct-to-invert-if-i-could-fly-i-would-into-could-i-fly-i-wou%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
0
active
oldest
votes
0
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f499322%2fis-it-correct-to-invert-if-i-could-fly-i-would-into-could-i-fly-i-wou%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
It's a bit quaint, but legit.
– Hot Licks
May 22 at 12:00
'Could I but fly, I would' sounds like the authentic quaint version.
– Edwin Ashworth
May 22 at 13:33