“I’m gonna pound that girl, I’m gonna…” he started, pounding the table as if it was her.
vs.
“I’m gonna pound that girl, I’m gonna…” he started, pounding the table as if it was she.
Which is it?
2007-10-30 01:31:17 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Neither, actually. It should be "I'm gonna pound the table as if it WERE she.
In simple terms, 'her' is more possessive, as in 'It belongs to her", "She likes to have her own way."
Try saying the full statement, & you will see that it is not correct.
"I'm gonna pound the table as if it was her (that I was pounding.) Just doesn't sound right, does it?
"I'm gonna pound the table as if it were she (that I was pounding.)
THAT sounds better!!
DEFINITELY "SHE"!!!
2007-10-30 01:44:07 · answer #1 · answered by cloud43 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many people have got this wrong, I'm afraid (grammar geek talking!). The female in question is the object of the sentence ('he' being the subject here) so using 'she' is just plain wrong in the context. If the sentence were different and the context was something like "the table started shaking under the pounding, as if she were hitting it" then that would be acceptable. However, this is not the case in this instance and so the correct form of this sentence is:
"I'm gonna pound that girl, I'm gonna ..." he started, pounding the table as if it were her.
2007-10-30 13:34:42 · answer #2 · answered by del_icious_manager 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would be "she," but the form of the verb needs to be changed to 'were' since it is a hypothetical situation. To explain the "she" first -- it is a predicate nominative (renames the subject "it" in the clause), so the nominative form of the pronoun needs to be used (vs. the objective "her" used as a direct object or object of a preposition)
As for the "were" instead of "was". . .
"The mood of the verb to be, when you use the phrase "it were," is called the subjunctive mood.
A subjunctive verb is used to communicate feelings such as wishfulness or imagination; things that aren't real or true. For example, in the song “If I Were A Rich Man” Tevye is fantasizing about all the things he would do if he were rich. He's not rich, he's just imagining, so if I were is the correct statement. I were often follows the word if, because if usually means you are wishing or imagining.
Note that the subjunctive verb is often followed by a statement using wishful words like would or could."
2007-10-30 08:46:18 · answer #3 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Technically, it should be "she" as the verb "to be" requires a subject pronoun. And, as others have pointed out, the verb should be subjunctive "as if it were she". But let's be realistic here -- how many people actually speak that way?? This is one of those areas where descriptive grammer and proscriptive grammar vary widely. Most English speakers, especially in the US, have adopted an "independent" case, similar to what is used in French: "c'est moi", "It's me". This sounds more natural and less pretentious.
I like your first sentence, with "her" (and also with "was" rather than "were"). It just sounds more like the way we all speak, even if the purists will disagree.
2007-10-30 09:03:50 · answer #4 · answered by dansinger61 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
“I’m gonna pound that girl, I’m gonna…” he started, pounding the table as if it was her.
Imagine reading the last part of the sentence as 'it was 'her vs 'it was she'. 'Her' is the correct alternative. Better to use 'were' rather than 'was'.
2007-10-30 08:42:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The second one. With a form of "to be" you need the subjective pronoun.
2007-10-30 08:34:28 · answer #6 · answered by Kimberly V 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would've said : as if it WERE she. subjunctive always messes me up. not sure what is correct anymore.
2007-10-30 08:41:52 · answer #7 · answered by busterwasmycat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
her
2007-10-30 08:34:58 · answer #8 · answered by mrr86 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋