Sth about was and were

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jasonhsu

#81874 Thu, 17 Mar 05 01:29 PM

Hi,

Please take a look at the following sentences

" What I wanted to do was go to Japan." I believe the verb form should be "was" here.

how about this one?

" What I wanted to do ( ) to get a good job, earn a lot of money, and live a happy life."

I am not sure how to determine the verb form-was or were?

Does it depend on how many actions I describe after the verb, or I should use "was" in such sentence no matter what?

Thanks

jasonhsu

Joined on Thu, Mar 17 2005

New Member (04)

Verbs

Mister Micawber

#81880 Thu, 17 Mar 05 02:21 PM

It depends on 'what' only:

'What I wanted to do was to get a good job, earn a lot of money, move to Japan, find a cute little wife, live a frustrating life, and end my days in a Zen monastery.'

PS: Hello, Jason-- welcome to English Forums!

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,604)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

jasonhsu

#82025 Fri, 18 Mar 05 03:26 AM

^^ thanks so much.

How about "where, how etc."? the same as "what" ?

jasonhsu

Mister Micawber

#82027 Fri, 18 Mar 05 03:51 AM

Yes:

'How I want to succeed is buy a gun, rob a bank, and move to Brazil'.
'When I plan to see the dentist is Tuesdays and Thursdays.
'Where I want to go is Hawaii, Saipan, and Phuket.'

But: 'The places I want to go are Hawaii, Saipan and Phuket.'

Mister Micawber

jasonhsu

#82101 Fri, 18 Mar 05 10:50 AM

Very very clear !!!!!

Thanks so much!!Ireally appreciate that !!

jasonhsu