5
   

was vs were

 
 
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 12:47 am
Should I use 'was' or 'were' in this context:

Imagine if a child were not taught the skills necessary to socialize.
 
View best answer, chosen by Sunshine21
Setanta
 
  2  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 01:38 am
You use "were," because "imagine if" establishes a (hypothetical) condition, and the succeeding clause is therefore in the subjunctive.
0 Replies
 
Amoh5
 
  1  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 02:18 am
@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
Sunshine21
 
  2  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 03:09 am
@Amoh5,
That's what I thought. But my editor corrected it to 'were'.
Amoh5
 
  1  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 03:40 am
@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.
roger
 
  3  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 03:49 am
@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
 
Setanta
 
  3  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 04:12 am
@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.
0 Replies
 
Setanta
  Selected Answer
 
  4  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 04:19 am
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.
Miss L Toad
 
  3  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 04:42 am
Sunshine21
 
  2  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 05:49 am
@Sunshine21,
Thanks everyone for your input.
0 Replies
 
Sunshine21
 
  2  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 05:50 am
@Setanta,
Hi Setanta
Thank you for the explanation and link! . I understand now. Thanks.
0 Replies
 
Sunshine21
 
  2  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 05:53 am
@Miss L Toad,
lol, only if hey.
PUNKEY
 
  2  
Reply Thu 28 Apr, 2016 07:02 am
@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.
Sunshine21
 
  2  
Reply Fri 29 Apr, 2016 01:10 am
@Sunshine21,
On second thought how about changing the sentence to:
Imagine a child not being taught the skills necessary to socialize.
Setanta
 
  0  
Reply Fri 29 Apr, 2016 02:18 am
@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.
0 Replies
 
Setanta
 
  0  
Reply Fri 29 Apr, 2016 02:19 am
@Sunshine21,
That works fine.
0 Replies
 
 

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