Wasn't vs. Weren't

Question

Hello everyone!I was having a little debate with someone on a little grammatical issue. So the sentence to be corrected is:We wasn't going to but jordan was skipping all the way to the toy shopI said it should be:We weren't going to but jordan was skipping all the way to the toy shopThe person cited this as support for why it would be correct with "wasn't":"The use of were and weren't in the subordinate clauses depends on the reality or truthfulness of the subordinate clause. If it is true, then the indicative forms of was and wasn't are in order. If it is not true i.e. counterfactual, then the past subjunctive forms were and weren't are used."He said that since it was true, it would be correct to use "wasn't"I'd appreciate your opinions on what is correct to use and why. Thanks!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

GrammarDebateHe said that since it was true, it would be correct to use "wasn't"

No. The choice between was and were that you're talking about here only applies to the first and third person singular (I, he, she, it).

we always takes were. you always takes were. they always takes were.

So in your example it's We weren't going .... There is no other possibility.

GrammarDebateThe use of were and weren't in the subordinate clauses depends on the reality or truthfulness of the subordinate clause

Further, the choice between was and were only applies to clauses that are hypothetical. In other words, the clause must begin with "if" or an equivalent expression. (It's actually "if" 99% of the time. On a rare occasion you may find "supposing" or "in the event that".)

To summarize with a rule that covers 99% of the cases, the past tense of be is

I, he, she, it was; we, you they were.

We can substitute 'were' for 'was' when it's in an if-clause.

(However, we can never substitute 'was' for 'were' in any clause.)

CJ

Wasn't vs. Weren't

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