is or were

Anonymous should 'is or were' be used in this sentence?The proposal should be prepared as if it 'were or is' to be submitted to an experienced reviewer.

I would use 'is' as there is no need for the subjunctive contrary to fact.

Thanks, teacher.

Philip need for the subjunctive contrary to fact.

Would you tell me what that means please. What does 'subjunctive contrary to fact' mean? Does that mean that 'were' makes it an imagined thing?

With were there would at least be some doubt as to whether or not it would be submitted.

English uses the conditional "if" in two ways. One might be called definitional:

"If a triangle has a 90 degree angle, then it is called a right triangle. In general, match the condition (90 degree angle), match the definition (right triangle)."

The second is called "condition contrary to fact," and the "if" clause proposes something that's not so:

"If I were you, I w

deadratEnglish uses the conditional "if" in two ways. One might be called definitional:"[...] ."The second is called "condition contrary to fact," and the "if" clause proposes something that's not so [...]The verb in these situations should be placed in the subjunctive mood, which for the verb "to be" is "were" for the first person singular.

A third possibilit

Anonymous should 'is or were' be used in this sentence?The proposal should be prepared as if it 'were or is' to be submitted to an experienced reviewer.

I agree with fivejedjon's reply, adding that the difference is perhaps a matter of style level, "were" being more formal than "is".

BillJ