By Ed Savitz, Adjunct Professor of Computer Studies, Community College of Philadelphia

Is there anyone out there who uses the subjunctive anymore?

If I were a writer or speaker in a hypothetical situation, I would. If it were up to me, we would surely speak subjunctively.

As if it weren't bad enough that we dropped shall from our verbal cache, hopefully is hopelessly misplaced, we ask if we can when when we mean may we?

Mais oui, quelle dommage,
the damage we do
to language we love.
If only what was
were what is again.

You can reach Ed at sg94cshj at post dot ocs dot drexel dot edu.