Re: Inversion for subjunctive (was "Get" passive)

2009/2/24 caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...>:
>> > 2009/2/23 Paul Kershaw <ptkershaw@...>:
>> >
>> > 5d. ?I've a cold.
>
>> Philip Newton <philip.newton@...> wrote:
>>
>> Constructions like 5d are said to be more common in Rightpondia.
>> (Similarly with "Have you a pen?".)
>
> Seeing this construction reminded me that I frequenly omit "if" and put
> the verb first.
>
> 1. Were I to tell you what I know....
> 2. Had I but known....
> etc.
Zou ik jou vertellen wat ik weet...
Had ik maar geweten...

Those two sound like valid Dutch sentences to me, in fact, they seem
more natural to me than the versions with Als.

So, English is not alone in that.