Predicate individual-level

Question

I’ve come across one post on a website. See below;

I wish my father had been rich. (Father is already dead and was poor)

I am trying to understand more about predicate individual-level and do need more input.

Can anyone tell me how did that sentence evoke lifetime effect?

I don't know what you mean by How did that sentence evoke lifetime effect?, but what I can say is that *had been* in your example doesn't necessarily imply your father is dead - just that he definitely wasn't rich at some point in the past. As opposed to subjunctive/irrealis I wish he were* rich, which simply implies that at time of speaking,* he isn't. — FumbleFingers, Mar 27 '18 at 17:27
Thanks! I thought of the same too. It was not my answer, it was theirs - ‘father is dead and was poor’. I just wonder how did it evoke the lifetime effect. Again, appreciate it. — MeGrammar, Mar 27 '18 at 18:28

score -1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 27 '18 at 19:55

-1

Considering you were able to transform the "see below" mishmash into the grammatically correct interpretation which you posited, you appear to be in very little need of help, if you ever were. Does that help?

answered Mar 27 '18 at 19:55

Steven P Makes it very easy rl

33

I don’t follow you. You mean I shall be in very little need of help if I be able to interpret the meaning of that sentence? – MeGrammar Mar 27 '18 at 21:59
Don't yet fathom why one would down or up vote what one does not understand. Being as yet unable to edit your question, seemed you made sense of the poorly written example you gave. Your question was a bit hard to decipher, however. No offense intended. I should have ignored the question. – Steven P Makes it very easy rl Mar 29 '18 at 19:31
In other words, I was down voted for a compliment. – Steven P Makes it very easy rl Mar 29 '18 at 19:32

Predicate individual-level

1 Answers1