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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Using was and were
How do you determine which is the correct word to use..."If it were Friday?" or If it was Friday?" I know there are other examples...
Thanks, this puzzles me.
Thanks, this puzzles me.
Top answer
1. -- Non-past . 2.
- 1.
- -- Non-past .
- 2.
- -- Past .
- In fact, however, 'was;' is often used casually in #1.
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3 Answers
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1. If it were Friday (which it is not), I would be going out for a beer tonight.-- Non-past.
2. If it was Friday (and it was) then I went out for a beer that night.-- Past.
In fact, however, 'was;' is often used casually in #1.
2. If it was Friday (and it was) then I went out for a beer that night.-- Past.
In fact, however, 'was;' is often used casually in #1.
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If today were Friday, I would be planning my weekend's activities.
The use of "were" tells the reader (or listener) that today is not Friday.
It is present tense. It is called the subjunctive mood, where we are making a false statement in an "if" clause.
Here is another example:
If I were rich, I would buy a diamond ring. (I am not rich.)
Past tense:
If you
The use of "were" tells the reader (or listener) that today is not Friday.
It is present tense. It is called the subjunctive mood, where we are making a false statement in an "if" clause.
Here is another example:
If I were rich, I would buy a diamond ring. (I am not rich.)
Past tense:
If you
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AnonymousHow do you determine which is the correct word to use.It depends what comes next. If a clause with would comes next, use were. If a clause with a past tense comes next, use was.
CJ
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