was vs were

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Should I use 'was' or 'were' in this context:

Imagine if a child were not taught the skills necessary to socialize.

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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 627 • Replies: 15

[+4] - Setanta - 04/28/2016At the top of a google search for "subjunctive mood"-- [quote]A verb is in the subjunctive mood when it expresses a condition which is doubtful or not factual. It is most often found...
[+3] - roger - 04/28/2016True, but you should refer to Setanta's answer regarding the conditional, as indicated by the word 'if'. 'Were' is right for that reason. It would also word as simple past in the plural.
[+3] - Setanta - 04/28/2016Your editor is correct, see my response above. If Amoh claims to be a native speaker of English, then he was certainly poorly educated.
[+3] - Miss L Toad - 04/28/2016[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBHZFYpQ6nc[/youtube]

You use "were," because "imagine if" establishes a (hypothetical) condition, and the succeeding clause is therefore in the subjunctive.

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@Sunshine21,

I think you would use the word "was" because you are only referring to one child. However, if you were referring to more than one child you would use the word "were."
.
Example 1: Imagine if a child "was" not taught the skills necessary to socialize.
.
Example 2: Imagine if children "were" not taught the skills necessary to socialize.
.
Singular: was
Plural: were

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@Amoh5,

That's what I thought. But my editor corrected it to 'were'.

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@Sunshine21,

Maybe English is not a first language of your Editor? "Was" refers to a singular context, "were" refers to a plural context.
English is definitely my first language.

1 Reply

@Amoh5,

True, but you should refer to Setanta's answer regarding the conditional, as indicated by the word 'if'. 'Were' is right for that reason. It would also word as simple past in the plural.

0 Replies

@Sunshine21,

Your editor is correct, see my response above. If Amoh claims to be a native speaker of English, then he was certainly poorly educated.

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At the top of a google search for "subjunctive mood"--

Quote:

A verb is in the subjunctive mood when it expresses a condition which is doubtful or not factual. It is most often found in a clause beginning with the word if. It is also found in clauses following a verb that expresses a doubt, a wish, regret, request, demand, or proposal.

You can read more about the subjunctive mood by clikcing here.

Your editor is correct, Amoh is wrong.

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@Sunshine21,

Thanks everyone for your input.

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@Setanta,

Hi Setanta
Thank you for the explanation and link! . I understand now. Thanks.

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@Miss L Toad,

lol, only if hey.

1 Reply

@Sunshine21,

Sunshine,
After a search on the internet, I found this:

Remember, just because the modal verb 'would' appears in the main clause, this doesn’t mean that the verb in the if clause must be in the subjunctive if the content of that clause is not presupposed to be false:

If I was (not were) to accept their offer—which I’m still considering—I would have to start the new job on May 2.

He would always call her from the office if he was (not were) going to be late for dinner.'"

If grandma was here, she would have made applesauce.

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@Sunshine21,

On second thought how about changing the sentence to:
Imagine a child not being taught the skills necessary to socialize.

1 Reply

@PUNKEY,

Changing the sentence is fine, if that is what the author wishes to do. However, this . ..

If grandma was here, she would have made applesauce.

. . . is incorrect. Clearly, it states a false condition, in that it implies that grandma is not here. So, the correct way to write that sentence is:

If grandma were here, she would have made applesauce.

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@Sunshine21,

That works fine.

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was vs were

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