Was-Were

Question

So I've been having a continuing discussion with a friend about the nature of "was" and "were". We have looked up a number of different explanations of when to use them and I think both feel fairly confident about when to use which. There is still one use we can not agree on, however - in the case of past tense "I think". I want to say "I think I were always a happy child" and my friend wants to say "I think I was always a happy child".

Here is one explanation I found online:
"I think I am..." v "I wish I were ...", This time the verb in the main clause (wish/think) are in the present tense. - uh, this time the explanation is harder: both think/wish introduce maybe yes or no subordinate clauses. So why not "I wish I am" or "I think I were"? Even more clearly, here the wishing suggests doubt (subjunctive 'I were') and the thinking suggests certainty (indicative 'I am'). Not so hard after all, hey?

If the logic is that "was" is used when you want to indicate certainty and "were" when you want to indicate doubt, then I would argue that both "was" and "were" are correct for "I think" but in different circumstances. At least for me, there is a pretty big difference between a sentence like "I think I was right!" and "I think I were happier back then."

Thoughts on this?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

AnonymousThoughts on this?

I think I was always a happy child.

AnonymousAt least for me, there is a pretty big difference between a sentence like "I think I was right!" and "I think I were happier back then.

Not for me. If you think something, then you think something.

Anonymous · Answer

what I'm looking for here is a grammatical reasoning for why it should always be "I think I was".

The best explanation I have found so far is the one I linked in the original post, but that one fails when you look at something like "I hope I was". To hope is not to suggest certainty.

-Karl

Mister Micawber · Answer

It is grammar, not logic.

I hope I was the winner— indicative (past tense in dependent clause)
I think I was the winner — indicative (past tense in dependent clause)
I know I was the winner— indicative (past tense in dependent clause)
I'm sure I was the winner— indicative (past tense in dependent clause)
I don't think I was the winner— indicative (past tense in dependent clause)

I wish I were the winner— subjunctive (present tense in dependent clause)

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIf the logic is that "was" is used when you want to indicate certainty and "were" when you want to indicate doubt, then I would argue that both "was" and "were" are correct for "I think" but in different circumstances.

That's a big "if". It turns out the the logic is nothing like that. It's actually simpler than logic. "wish" has a very unusual grammar compared with other verbs. You can't use "wish" as a model for how to use any other verb. Regardless of any indications of doubt or certainty, "wish" just works differently from all other verbs. You'll be happier once you stop agonizing over concepts like doubt and certainty, because they will only twist you in knots.

Stative verbs after "wish" (present tense) are always in the past tense.

I wish I had a brother.
I wish they understood what I say.
Don't you wish we owned a pet?
I wish you were kinder to your mother-in-law.
He often wishes that his parents were rich.

The only oddity is that, to be more formal, you change 'was' to 'were' after "wish".

I wish I was taller. (Possible, but rather informal, at least in American English.)
I wish I were taller. (Sounds better without being excessively formal.)

None of the other verbs work like "wish", so constructions like "I think I were" are pure madness.

CJ

Was-Were

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions