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Khoshtip Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
had been or were
Please consider following sentence:
The sky is so red, it looks as it if had been/were on fire.
Which one of had been or were is correct? And why please?
The sky is so red, it looks as it if had been/were on fire.
Which one of had been or were is correct? And why please?
Top answer
It's 'has been'. It is related to the time of speaking, not to a previous time.
- It's 'has been'.
- It is related to the time of speaking, not to a previous time.
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5 Answers
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It's 'has been'. It is related to the time of speaking, not to a previous time.
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Thanks for the reply but please note that there is as if in the sentence for which we should use past time.
I'm studying the book English Grammar Digest by Trudy Aronson. It says the word were is correct but I don't know why had been is not!
I'm studying the book English Grammar Digest by Trudy Aronson. It says the word were is correct but I don't know why had been is not!
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Sorry. I misread your question. 'Were' is correct. It's the past subjunctive use for a present irrealis situation.
Incidentally, despite what your book says, 'is' is possible.
Incidentally, despite what your book says, 'is' is possible.
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Thank you. May you in a simple language say why had been is not correct please?
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And what if we replace it and if, that is, if we have this?
The sky is so red, it looks as if it had been/were on fire.
The sky is so red, it looks as if it had been/were on fire.
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