Lets speak English (Английский клуб) - Страница 73

vengeance · 09.04.2008, 20:11

Who's able to explain what exact rule applies when past tense plural/singular form of "be" is being used with subjunctive, e.g. "If he weren't so mean, he would buy one for me", while "If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one for me" is actually also correct, although in private conversation likely. And why it doesn't work with "If i were you"?

mnnmn · 14.04.2008, 09:45

I think it's an exception.

vengeance · 14.04.2008, 10:45

Hi mnnmn, and thanks for your reply. Were you referring to "If i were you" construction as an exception, or the whole matter?

maia25 · 02.05.2008, 16:55

I'm start leaning English too

gremar · 09.05.2008, 17:19

Цитата:

Сообщение от vengeance

Who's able to explain what exact rule applies when past tense plural/singular form of "be" is being used with subjunctive, e.g. "If he weren't so mean, he would buy one for me", while "If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one for me" is actually also correct, although in private conversation likely. And why it doesn't work with "If i were you"?

This is the case of the present-unreal condition. We use the simple past tense after if. In the case of the verb to be we use a special (subjunctive) form in all if clauses.
If I were
you were
he, she were
we were
they were

karol · 20.05.2008, 12:12

Just for fun

A policeman spots a woman driving and knitting at the same time. Driving up beside her, he shouts out the window, "Pull over!" "No," she shouts back, "a pair of socks!"

vengeance · 21.05.2008, 11:00

gremar,

I'm aware of that all right. Although it's more like an assertion of a fact, rather than explanation.

Honestly, i'd like to know exactly why it is the way it is, and why both "If he weren't" and "If he wasn't" forms are grammatically acceptable. Thank you for replying however.

Lonny · 23.05.2008, 12:28

Hmmm.. mice , sorry nice chat. And in English!! Great. I don't mind chatting in English, do you need good Company??

name777 · 27.05.2008, 14:59

vengeance, technically speaking "If he wasn't" is incorrect, in accordance with classic English grammar. Consider its acceptability as a natural language evolution.

vengeance · 31.05.2008, 12:47

name777,
Ok, granted.

Any language, being spoken on, evolves. Though, where did it came from, i mean, using plural form in all if-else instances?

20.05.2008, 12:12	Вверх #726
karol Близкий Знакомый Регистрация: 28.09.2007 Был(а) у нас: 12.08.2014 07:21 Сообщений: 177 Пол:	Just for fun A policeman spots a woman driving and knitting at the same time. Driving up beside her, he shouts out the window, "Pull over!" "No," she shouts back, "a pair of socks!"
	"Per aspera ad astra"

09.04.2008, 20:11	Вверх #721
vengeance Лучший Друг Форума Возраст: 50 Регистрация: 15.06.2007 Был(а) у нас: 10.11.2009 08:08 Сообщений: 1,046 Пол:	Who's able to explain what exact rule applies when past tense plural/singular form of "be" is being used with subjunctive, e.g. "If he weren't so mean, he would buy one for me", while "If he wasn't so mean, he would buy one for me" is actually also correct, although in private conversation likely. And why it doesn't work with "If i were you"?

14.04.2008, 09:45	Вверх #722
mnnmn Новичок Возраст: 34 Регистрация: 14.04.2008 Был(а) у нас: 14.04.2008 09:46 Сообщений: 2 Пол:	I think it's an exception.

14.04.2008, 10:45	Вверх #723
vengeance Лучший Друг Форума Возраст: 50 Регистрация: 15.06.2007 Был(а) у нас: 10.11.2009 08:08 Сообщений: 1,046 Пол:	Hi mnnmn, and thanks for your reply. Were you referring to "If i were you" construction as an exception, or the whole matter?

02.05.2008, 16:55	Вверх #724
maia25 Новичок Возраст: 43 Регистрация: 25.04.2008 Был(а) у нас: 08.04.2013 18:42 Сообщений: 2 Пол:	I'm start leaning English too

21.05.2008, 11:00	Вверх #727
vengeance Лучший Друг Форума Возраст: 50 Регистрация: 15.06.2007 Был(а) у нас: 10.11.2009 08:08 Сообщений: 1,046 Пол:	gremar, I'm aware of that all right. Although it's more like an assertion of a fact, rather than explanation. Honestly, i'd like to know exactly why it is the way it is, and why both "If he weren't" and "If he wasn't" forms are grammatically acceptable. Thank you for replying however.

23.05.2008, 12:28	Вверх #728
Lonny Новичок Возраст: 45 Регистрация: 23.05.2008 Был(а) у нас: 24.04.2009 04:33 Сообщений: 6 Пол:	Hmmm.. mice , sorry nice chat. And in English!! Great. I don't mind chatting in English, do you need good Company??

27.05.2008, 14:59	Вверх #729
name777 Друг Возраст: 51 Регистрация: 18.08.2004 Был(а) у нас: 08.11.2017 14:39 Сообщений: 718 Пол:	vengeance, technically speaking "If he wasn't" is incorrect, in accordance with classic English grammar. Consider its acceptability as a natural language evolution.

31.05.2008, 12:47	Вверх #730
vengeance Лучший Друг Форума Возраст: 50 Регистрация: 15.06.2007 Был(а) у нас: 10.11.2009 08:08 Сообщений: 1,046 Пол:	name777, Ok, granted. Any language, being spoken on, evolves. Though, where did it came from, i mean, using plural form in all if-else instances?