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Compute83 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Getting confused with the word, "was."
I understand that the word, "was," is a past tense verb that is used to desrcibe something that has happened in the past. what confuses me, however, is when the verb is applied to a phrase like "If I were green.." Even though the phrase "If l were green..." is correct as opposed to the phrase "If I am green...," I don't really understand why other than that it sounds right. Is it because the person is making a reference to the past?
Example A
"The Apple icon is blue!? It would have made more sense if the apple icon is red.
Rather than:
Example B
"The Apple icon is blue!? It would have made more sense if the apple icon was red."
The first example seems accurate to me because the first sentence is written in present tense form and the second sentence that follows it, uses the present prefect tense of "have."
If the sentence were to be modified into a past tense form, would the word, "was," be appropriate?
"The Apple icon was blue in 1991!? It would had made more if the apple icon was red"
Example A
"The Apple icon is blue!? It would have made more sense if the apple icon is red.
Rather than:
Example B
"The Apple icon is blue!? It would have made more sense if the apple icon was red."
The first example seems accurate to me because the first sentence is written in present tense form and the second sentence that follows it, uses the present prefect tense of "have."
If the sentence were to be modified into a past tense form, would the word, "was," be appropriate?
"The Apple icon was blue in 1991!? It would had made more if the apple icon was red"
Top answer
Strictly speaking , 'were' not 'was' is required. This is the subjunctive mood, which is used for conditional statements contrary to fact, since the icon is actually blue. Similarly, the past perfect is required in the third sentence.
- Strictly speaking , 'were' not 'was' is required.
- This is the subjunctive mood, which is used for conditional statements contrary to fact, since the icon is actually blue.
- Similarly, the past perfect is required in the third sentence.
- These are correct: The Apple icon is blue!?
- It would make more sense if the apple icon were red.
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3 Answers
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Strictly speaking , 'were' not 'was' is required. This is the subjunctive mood, which is used for conditional statements contrary to fact, since the icon is actually blue. Similarly, the past perfect is required in the third sentence.
These are correct:
The Apple icon is blue!? It would make more sense if the apple icon were red. (present conditional)
These are correct:
The Apple icon is blue!? It would make more sense if the apple icon were red. (present conditional)
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I think you have answered my concerns, but just to be sure, I wasn't sure why "were" was used in phrases such as "If l were an elephant..." before reading your comment.
I thought that the word "were" is plural for "was," which I now know is incorrect; "were" is a past tense verb for "to be" and "was" is a past tense verb for "is." Silly me.
Because of that mistake, I was w
I thought that the word "were" is plural for "was," which I now know is incorrect; "were" is a past tense verb for "to be" and "was" is a past tense verb for "is." Silly me.
Because of that mistake, I was w
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Oops. I goofed. "were" is plural for "was.''
I searched Wikitionary and I found my answer to my "were"/"was" question. "were" is a simple imperfect subjunctive in all persons of be.
Thanks for the present conditional and subjunctive mood answer.
I searched Wikitionary and I found my answer to my "were"/"was" question. "were" is a simple imperfect subjunctive in all persons of be.
Thanks for the present conditional and subjunctive mood answer.
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