He wishes he was Jewish.
OR
He wishes he were Jewish.
2006-12-11 20:34:35 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
I AM AN ENGLISH TEACHER.
the correct answer is: He wishED he was Jewish.
Why? because this is a case of "reported speech". And the conversation would have gone like this:
Tom: I wish I were Jewish.
Sally: Really?
Sally to Mary: Mary, Tom said he wished (that) he was Jewish.
Mary: What? He wished he was Jewish!
It is not subjunctive. It is not conditional (IF he were Jewish). It is not a plural verb (you would use the past simple verb... If he converted to Judaism)
2006-12-11 20:40:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
He wished that he was Jewish.
2006-12-11 20:39:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually a singular noun takes the singular verb was, but the subjunctive case ( statements contrary to fact and impossibilities) call for the plural verb were. Since the person is not a Jew, this statement is subjunctive case, so the verb were should be used.The statement should be "He wishes he were a Jew."
2006-12-11 20:48:53 · answer #3 · answered by Max 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he wishes he was Jewish
2006-12-11 20:39:41 · answer #4 · answered by shamsayasmin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wishes he were Jewish.
This is the correct one , because it's not a fact or a hope for me to achieve someday
so the form (He/I/you etc.... + wish + were + ............) Always using were
2006-12-11 20:39:44 · answer #5 · answered by P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you are all wrong.
The correct way is "He wishes he were Jewish" because it is subjunctive.
We use "were" when we are wishing something, or imagining that we are something, e.g. "If I were you", "If I were a rich man", etc.
2006-12-11 20:46:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wishes he were Jewish. what a freak who is this guy. tell him if he wants to be then he can always join a jewish church
2006-12-11 20:39:08 · answer #7 · answered by Plop 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
He was Jewish.
He were Jewish.
Which one sounds right to you? You are leaving out a parenthetical "that" which would help, I suspect. As in...
He wishes that he was Jewish.
OR
He wishes that he were Jewish.
"Were" is plural. "Was" is singular. "He" is singular.
2006-12-11 20:38:50 · answer #8 · answered by eselgeist 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Either is correct........'were' is a bit old-fashioned. Most people these days would probably say 'was'.
2006-12-11 20:40:23 · answer #9 · answered by lou b 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is "was" - "were" is plural.
2006-12-11 20:38:51 · answer #10 · answered by Doyle Hargraves 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋