'if that was' vs. 'if that were'

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Anonymous

#448632 Sat, 01 Dec 07 09:36 PM

What is more accepted? -- "As if that were not enough . . ." vs. "As if that was not enough . . ." Thanks.

Anonymous

Philip

#448636 Sat, 01 Dec 07 09:58 PM

Anonymous wrote:
What is more accepted? -- "As if that were not enough . . ." vs. "As if that was not enough . . ." Thanks.

I vote for "were", because it is correct, even though many use "was".

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,181)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Futurehuman11

#448643 Sat, 01 Dec 07 10:22 PM

It is 'were' because this sentence is an example of a conditional sentence. Some 'google' seaching will give you some more insight on conditional sentences.

Futurehuman11

Joined on Sat, Dec 1 2007

Junior Member (77)

Conditionals

MrPedantic

#448659 Sun, 02 Dec 07 12:30 AM

I would opt for "either", depending on temporal context:

1. And as if that wasn't enough, he even used the jacuzzi.

2. And as if that weren't enough, he even wants her to move in with us.

(Though I think most BrE speakers would say "wasn't", in #2.)

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,052)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...