Learn English – the use of “were to” to mean “suppose” or “imagine”

conditionalssubjunctive-mood

Is it okay to use the counterfactual subjuntive verb phrase, "were to" with the present tense of a main clause? I thought that "if subject + were to + verb" should be used with "would" or "could" in a main clause bcause I was taught that it shows something is highly unlikely or unthinkable.

Does "were to" mean "suppose" or "imagine," which expresses possible and factual situations?

Please read the following excerpt.
"If one were to use the Hallyu phenomenon as a measuring stick for the Korean government's culture policies to establish a new Korean identity internationally, it is clear that it has succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations. "

Is the present tense of the main clause grammatically correct?
Then, how could we parse the sentence?
Is it kind of a mixed conditional? I'm not sure what we should call that type of sentence, conditional? or subjunctive?

Best Answer

The excerpt strikes my American ear as ungrammatical. I want either "would be clear" if were to remains, or Using instead of "If one were to".

If one were to use the Hallyu phenomenon as a measuring stick ...it would be clear that it has succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations.

Using the Hallyu phenomenon as a measuring stick ...it is clear that it has succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations.

*If I were to call it something, I call it a "derailment".

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