Using "was" and "were"

'parents wish their daughter was' - this is correct.
The word 'was' refers to 'one daughter'.

Or you can change it to - 'parents wish their daughters were'.


Ryan

Both are correct!

The form "were" is the rest of the extinct subjunctive modus of the verb "to be".
It is used in sentences that express a wish that cannot be fulfilled e.g. the one you mentioned above.

Only "to be" kept these subjunctive forms in the 1st and 3rd person singular:
I were, he were
all the other verbs stick to their past tense forms.
Also "w

WERE is correct... as pemmican explains, the subjunctive is required, because regret of an unfulfilled wish is expressed.

(and regardless of whether you are referring to one or more than one daughters, "were" is appropriate)

I stand corrected - the subjuctive is needed. Please ignore my earlier mail. We are talking about an unfulfilled wish here.


Ryan

0 00I am a year 5 teacher and really struggling with was and were for the following. Please can you help?00If I 01u00were02u00 the head master/mistress00If I 01u00was02u00 the head master/mistress)...I would teach '01u00was'02u00 as 'I' is singular but does the unfulfilled wish come in to it? 00Are both correct

0Hi Sharon, 02br
02br
00Look up the 01i00subjunctive 02i00- it's a situation contrary to reality. You would use "If I were" in that situation.0-

She looked as if she were to leave.

She wished that she were ten.

AnonymousShe looked as if she were to leave.

Did you mean She looked as if she were about to leave?
CJ

parents wish their dauther were