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conditional(subjunctive past) in the present tense world vs. in the past tense w...

conditional(subjunctive past) in the present tense world vs. in the past tense world

  1. He knows they would feel affronted if they were not invited. -- in the present world(knows)

would, were (distancing vs. knows)

  1. He knew they would feel affronted if they were not invited. -- in the past world(knew)

would, were (no distancing vs. knew)

How can I know in case of 2 whether it's in the indicative(backshifted) mood or subjunctive mood (unreal, opposite situation at that time of 'knew')?

If you are native English speakers, the 2 sentence is interpreted like the possibility of not being invited is open(indicative) or closed(subjunctive)?


Top Answer/Comment:

Comment: You'd know by context. Presumably a particular event and a particular act of invitation were being discussed, which would either be in the past or the future. Alternatively, if you were writing this you could be more explicit.

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