Were vs. was

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The EnglishLearner

#63347 Sat, 25 Dec 04 01:37 PM

Please tell me correct sentences here.

1.
a. 'I couldn't figure out which one was you in the picture'
b. 'I couldn't figure out which one were you in the picture'

2.
a. 'I wish I were there'
b. 'I wish I was there'

Thanks a lot and Happy holidays everybody!!

The EnglishLearner

Joined on Fri, Sep 19 2003

New Member (21)

Mister Micawber

#63356 Sat, 25 Dec 04 03:00 PM

(1a) and (2a) are correct. (1a) is past indicative, a statement of fact: S = 'one'; V = 'was'. (2a) is present subjunctive, a condition contrary to fact: S = 'I'; V = 'were'.

And a Merry Christmas to you too, EL.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,322)

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

Subjunctives

just the truth

#63796 Tue, 28 Dec 04 09:23 AM

2.
a. 'I wish I were there'
b. 'I wish I was there'

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Both of these are correct, standard English. 2a only has a special name, the subjunctive. That doesn't mean that it is the only form in English that expresses counterfactual situations.

"If I lived in Toronto, ... " is not a subjunctive form but it expresses a counterfactual because of the past tense FORM. The same is true of in 2b.

just the truth

Joined on Mon, Dec 27 2004

Regular Member (849)

Tenses, Subjunctives, Past tenses