Grammar question

[Pam Scruton]

No: HPFGUIDX 10276

I wrote 
> Apart from my immediate family, the only people I know 
> > who ever use subjunctives are Merkins!
> > 

And Susan wrote 
> You mean "condition contrary to fact" I wish I were King?
> 
> Would that I were Harry Potter?
> 
> We use them all the time.....

Yes - that's more or less what I meant.  Also things like

"If he were to ...."  rather than "If he was to ..."

I also note that my Merkin (their choice of description - not mine!) 
friends are more likely to say "Because of his arriving late" which I 
think is correct rather than "Because of him arriving late" which is 
what I most frequently hear and see written.  

Pam