XPost: alt.usage.english
From: no_email@invalid.invalid

John Armstrong  wrote:
> On 22/07/2024 03:50, HenHanna wrote:
>> I do...   (reminds me...)  that
>>
>> [So help me God]  -- must be in Subjunctive (mood)
>>
>>
>> there must be other common phrases that are subtle  like that.
>
> Imperative mood, surely.
>

It's subjunctive in portuguese - assim Deus me ajude - expressing a
wish/conditional, not a command.

We (pt) do use the subjunctive as an imperative for other persons than
etymological 2nd, but I don't think this (eng) is such a case. Not because
it's God. 'So the weather allow' wouldn't be a command either.

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