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Rockstar25 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Was or were
How to use the word was and were...
i'm really confused
example:-
If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel.
He wishes he were/was here with us.
which one to use were or was... plz tell me the reason
i'm really confused
example:-
If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel.
He wishes he were/was here with us.
which one to use were or was... plz tell me the reason
Top answer
If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel. He wishes he were/was here with us. In these, 'were' is the careful grammar choice, but 'was' is often heard nowadays.
- If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel.
- He wishes he were/was here with us.
- In these, 'were' is the careful grammar choice, but 'was' is often heard nowadays.
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6 Answers
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If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel.
He wishes he were/was here with us.
In these, 'were' is the careful grammar choice, but 'was' is often heard nowadays.
He wishes he were/was here with us.
In these, 'were' is the careful grammar choice, but 'was' is often heard nowadays.
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There is a difference between the simple past and the subjunctive. In both your examples "were" should be used as it is the sbjunctive ( or let's say the unreal past):
- In the first sentence, you just suppose but in reality you are not able to take a year off to travel. So , you should use the subjunctive (where "were" is used with all the pronouns.
- In the s
- In the first sentence, you just suppose but in reality you are not able to take a year off to travel. So , you should use the subjunctive (where "were" is used with all the pronouns.
- In the s
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With 'were' or 'was', these are the 'unreal present', Mokhtar:
If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel now or soon.
He wishes he were/was here with us now.
It is merely a matter of the subjunctive becoming less used and the indicative more common in current English. Please update your grammar sense.
If I were/was able to, I would take a year off to travel now or soon.
He wishes he were/was here with us now.
It is merely a matter of the subjunctive becoming less used and the indicative more common in current English. Please update your grammar sense.
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i mean when and how to use both words..was and were-- I have already answered this: 'were' is the careful grammar choice, but 'was' is often heard nowadays.
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I am not saying that "was" can't be used. I'm just saying that the subjunctive for "to be" is "were" with all pronouns and the rule says we'd better use the subjunctive.
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