The confusion between the subjunctive and the conditional form of the verb in "if" clauses is long-lived and not likely to be relieved any time soon. And to add insult to injury, there is the endless disagreement over just when it is required and when it is not.

In order to examine the use of the subjunctive mood, we must first understand just exactly what it is. Consider the sentence "''People treat reason as if it were the most minor and harmful aspect of a whole human being." The "were" is in the subjunctive mood, which is often used after "if" in a clause. BUT, not always.

This is where things get tricky. If the "condition" that the verb is referencing is desired or wished for or hoped for or contrary to fact, use the subjunctive. Even if that wish has the possibility of coming true, if it hasn't yet, use the subjunctive. Completely confused? You are not alone.

Let's start with a few easy examples.

If Lucy were queen (but she's not), she would have you arrested.

Max wishes he were somewhere warm. (but he's not)

But what if there is no wishing or hoping involved and the possibility exists that the condition will be met? Use the conditional for situations that don't exist but might very well exist.

In each of the following examples, the writer confuses the conditional mood with the subjunctive mood. Writers should reserve the subjunctive form of the verb "to be" for describing things that not only don't exist but probably will not exist.

"The S.E.C., if it were given supervision of these securities, might hope to use the new authority to improve its reputation as a vigilant market watchdog." DealBook, New York Times October 21, 2008

The S.E.C. might be given supervision of the securities. The proper form of the verb is was given.

"It was as if he were so determined not to pander, he left any good ideas he might have had in his briefcase." Opinion, LA Times March 28, 2008

He might challenge Obama on those policy issues. So the sentence should have read Imagine if he was challenging Obama on those policy differences.

The possibility exists that he be determined not to pander. So the proper form is it was as if he was.

"Imagine if he were challenging Obama on those policy differences." Fred Hiatt, Washington Post, October 13, 2008

Here is the conditional used correctly:

"And if I were him, I would ask Al Gore to serve as his vice president, his energy czar, in his administration to reduce our consumption and reliance on foreign energy sources." Top of the Ticket James Carville, Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2008

Of course, Carville should have used the nominative form the the pronoun "he" rather than "him," but let's at least give him credit for assuring us with the use of the subjunctive that he is not now and never will be Al Gore.

"The most maddening part for Texas might be that if it were in one of the other five conferences with split divisions -- the Atlantic Coast, Conference USA, the Mid-American and the Southeastern Conference - it would have advanced ahead of the Sooners." New York Times

Texas is not in one of the other five conferences. The condition is contrary to fact; therefore, we use the subjunctive.

As should be clear by now, proper use of the subjunctive and conditional tenses is no easy feat. The key, as with all things in writing, is to know exactly what the words being used are doing in the sentence.

Kellee Weinhold is a former newspaper and magazine editor, publisher and journalism professor. Visit her Web site, The Tongue Untied, http://www.grammaruntied.com for more information on writing, including grammar, punctuation and style.