2006-07-19 16:00:35 · 11 answers · asked by seekingfaith1 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Why is a plural noun "were" used with a singular subject? I have seen this with many 'if' sentences.
2006-07-19 16:31:31 · update #1
You are using what is called the subjunctive mood of the verb "to be." This mood is used, among other things, to express wishes - such as the wish in your example.
In English, the third person singular past subjunctive is were (not was). That's why it's is grammatically correct to say, "If Jack were here" instead of "If Jack was here."
2006-07-19 16:58:03 · answer #1 · answered by jimbob 6 · 13⤊ 3⤋
Because the sentence-writer made a mistake. If it was "jack and it" it would be "were", but it's saying that jack/it are a single entity in this case, so it should be "was".
2006-07-19 16:05:09 · answer #2 · answered by DakkonA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"were" indicates the conditional tense, used to describe something that didn't actually happen and/or isn't actually happening, but might under other circumstances. I think "were" is used instead of "was" to show that it is not the actual case of something that did happen, but an alternate possiblilty.
2006-07-19 16:06:11 · answer #3 · answered by surlygurl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to what's written above, "were" does not indicate future tense. Ex. We were walking means it happened in the past.
The use of "were" is a conditional, because of the "if".
2006-07-19 16:05:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the conditional or subjunctive mood as has been stated already. I would add that the verb "were" is also used in wish statement. "I wish I were on vacation."
2006-07-19 17:29:08 · answer #5 · answered by Ereshkigal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you say, "If Jack was here," it implies past tense...like he might have been here, but he's not anymore. "Were" is used to mean wishful thinking or something that's not "real."
2006-07-19 16:08:04 · answer #6 · answered by Bogusfrog 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
were is used for people.
2006-07-19 16:05:03 · answer #7 · answered by Only out of this world 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the tense. "Were" is being used as if it was occurring now. "was" would be used if it had already occurred. Example, "If my Dad were here, this is what he would do". vs. "If my Dad would have been here, he would have done this"
2006-07-19 16:19:48 · answer #8 · answered by edzjaxon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Were" is used for plural. "Was" is used for single.
"Jack/it" sounds like a single object, so it should be "Was".
2006-07-19 16:07:56 · answer #9 · answered by AlexS 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"If ...were here..." sounds like it's in the subjunctive mood.
2006-07-19 16:07:19 · answer #10 · answered by rb42redsuns 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋