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Kenkenken9876 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
When to use WAS, not WERE
From "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language"
---The were-subjunctive cannot replace the hypothetical past in constructions introduced by It's time (that), eg: It's time I was in bed.
Question:
1, If I said "It's time I were in bed," how would it sound?
2, In the sentence "It's time I was in bed," the WAS is in the subjunctive mood or indicative mood?
I'm afraid I'm not yet completely clear with the reason why WERE cannot be used in the sentence "It's time I WAS in bed."
Could someone paraphrase the explanation so I could understand it better?
Thank you in advance.
---The were-subjunctive cannot replace the hypothetical past in constructions introduced by It's time (that), eg: It's time I was in bed.
Question:
1, If I said "It's time I were in bed," how would it sound?
2, In the sentence "It's time I was in bed," the WAS is in the subjunctive mood or indicative mood?
I'm afraid I'm not yet completely clear with the reason why WERE cannot be used in the sentence "It's time I WAS in bed."
Could someone paraphrase the explanation so I could understand it better?
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
kenkenken9876 1, If I said "It's time I were in bed," how would it sound? Bad. kenkenken9876 2, In the sentence "It's time I was in bed," the WAS is in the subjunctive mood or indicative mood?
- kenkenken9876 1, If I said "It's time I were in bed," how would it sound?
- Bad.
- kenkenken9876 2, In the sentence "It's time I was in bed," the WAS is in the subjunctive mood or indicative mood?
- It is a past indicative form used hypothetically for the present, actually.
- I'm afraid I'm not yet completely clear with the reason why WERE cannot be used.
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2 Answers
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kenkenken98761, If I said "It's time I were in bed," how would it sound?Bad.
kenkenken98762, In the sentence "It's time I was in bed," the WAS is in the subjunctive mood or indicative mood?It is a past indicative form used hypothetically for the present, actually.
kenkenken9876---The were-subjunctiv
00
What about this?
---It's about time this road was completed.
This sentence is shown in the below URL.
http://www.grammaring.com/its-high-time
Iit's (high) time + past subjunctive
Then, isn't the "WAS" in this sentence in the subju
---It's about time this road was completed.
This sentence is shown in the below URL.
http://www.grammaring.com/its-high-time
Iit's (high) time + past subjunctive
Then, isn't the "WAS" in this sentence in the subju
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