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Joe2012 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Was or were verb confusion
Context: The sentence you would see from the second para is a reply to my friend who said "if there was no 22nd meeting, who set the date and why?"
Sentence: In reply to my friend I said "certainly not us, it was/were your own MSM friends, for whom u right these days, did it."
My question/doubt: I used was verb in my sentence. Later I realized it could be wrong. So want to confirm from you. Did I use the right verb ? or Should it be "were" verb in place of "was" verb ?
Thanks
Sentence: In reply to my friend I said "certainly not us, it was/were your own MSM friends, for whom u right these days, did it."
My question/doubt: I used was verb in my sentence. Later I realized it could be wrong. So want to confirm from you. Did I use the right verb ? or Should it be "were" verb in place of "was" verb ?
Thanks
Top answer
You're fine. Your friend's sentence has an "if clause," which calls for the subjunctive. " Your sentence has no "if clause," so "were" may not be used.
- You're fine.
- Your friend's sentence has an "if clause," which calls for the subjunctive.
- " Your sentence has no "if clause," so "were" may not be used.
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1 Answers
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You're fine.
Your friend's sentence has an "if clause," which calls for the subjunctive.
However, the subjunctive has fallen out of favor, and you may choose to replace it with the simple past, "was."
Yoursentence has no "if clause," so "were" may not be used.
Your friend's sentence has an "if clause," which calls for the subjunctive.
However, the subjunctive has fallen out of favor, and you may choose to replace it with the simple past, "was."
Yoursentence has no "if clause," so "were" may not be used.
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