As if it was/were
Hello....
He did his best as if the game _________ his last. In fact, it was not.
...........
In the blank, which one is the best?
- was
- were
- had been
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As a non-native, I feel like this.
A is correct when he didn’t know that the game was his last. He just played like someone who was playing his last game.
B is correct when he knew it was not his last game, but did his best as if he was playing his last game.
C is correct when there was a reference point in the context other than “did his best”.
**************
How is my non-native sense of English?
What will be the best answer for the question?
Top answer
In normal reading I wouldn't pick up any distinction between "was" and "were" beyond one of formality. Without more context, I would read "had been" as a (to my eye, in this instance) slightly faulty way of indicating a past counterfactual, rather than relative to some reference point. I'm not sure if this might change in a certain context.
- In normal reading I wouldn't pick up any distinction between "was" and "were" beyond one of formality.
- Without more context, I would read "had been" as a (to my eye, in this instance) slightly faulty way of indicating a past counterfactual, rather than relative to some reference point.
- I'm not sure if this might change in a certain context.
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In normal reading I wouldn't pick up any distinction between "was" and "were" beyond one of formality.
Without more context, I would read "had been" as a (to my eye, in this instance) slightly faulty way of indicating a past counterfactual, rather than relative to some reference point. I'm not sure if this might change in a certain context.
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