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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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 Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:45 am Post subject: Was/were grammar question |
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I proofread an adult student's writing with him.
In the sentence:
"My life would be much happier if there were not English in the world.", I changed "were" to "was".
The student argued "was" would be an incorrect word in this case.
I responded by saying "was" should be used, because "English" is singular.
He countered with the example of "If I were a bird, I could fly."
(In this sentence, "bird" is singular.)
What is the proper grammar, and how do I describe this grammar in a way that makes sense?
Many thanks. |
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Birder
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 8:38 am Post subject: |
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Your student is technically correct. What he's referring to is the subjunctive mood, which has all but disappeared from modern English. We use it to talk about things that are contrary to fact and to wishes. "If I were King of the forest ..." "I wish I were rich ..." This usage is, these days, fading. It's just as likely to hear a native speaker say, "If I was King of the forest ..." or "If I was rich".
The other use of the subjunctive is with verbs of command. "The boss instists/insisted that she take the TOEFL." "He damands/demanded that we obey his wishes." "The party insists that he vote the party line."
The subjunctive is also present in some set phrases. God bless you. God bless America. If this be treason ... |
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nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 3:34 am Post subject: Re: Was/were grammar question |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
I proofread an adult student's writing with him.
In the sentence:
"My life would be much happier if there were not English in the world.", I changed "were" to "was".
The student argued "was" would be an incorrect word in this case.
I responded by saying "was" should be used, because "English" is singular.
He countered with the example of "If I were a bird, I could fly."
(In this sentence, "bird" is singular.)
What is the proper grammar, and how do I describe this grammar in a way that makes sense?
Many thanks. |
Both the student's and your sentence are wrong, for different reasons. It could be rewritten as:
My life would be happier if English were not in the world.
or
My life would be happier if there were no English in the world. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:56 am Post subject: Re: Was/were grammar question |
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| nate1983 wrote: |
| Both the student's and your sentence are wrong, for different reasons. |
OK. Thanks for the response. Could you explain further? |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Was/were grammar question |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| nate1983 wrote: |
| Both the student's and your sentence are wrong, for different reasons. |
OK. Thanks for the response. Could you explain further? |
It depends on the situation you are using it in. If you are just talking to a friend, I feel it is inaccurate because it should be reworded to something more like, "My life would be better if English weren't spoken."
Replace "better" with whatever adjective you prefer and "spoken" with another verb if it seems limiting, like "used". |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:07 am Post subject: Re: Was/were grammar question |
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| nate1983 wrote: |
My life would be happier if there were no English in the world. |
This sentence would be acceptable if you have a hate on for people from England.
I doubt that was the intended meaning. 
Birder is correct about the subjunctive mood.
KT is correct about modifying both the subject and English.
Life is a thing....can not be happier.
I would be happier...
the English language..or if English was/were not used
The subjunctive is a formality that is not long for this world.
Enjoy it while you can. |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Was/were grammar question |
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| nate1983 wrote: |
| World Traveler wrote: |
I proofread an adult student's writing with him.
In the sentence:
"My life would be much happier if there were not English in the world.", I changed "were" to "was".
The student argued "was" would be an incorrect word in this case.
I responded by saying "was" should be used, because "English" is singular.
He countered with the example of "If I were a bird, I could fly."
(In this sentence, "bird" is singular.)
What is the proper grammar, and how do I describe this grammar in a way that makes sense?
Many thanks. |
Both the student's and your sentence are wrong, for different reasons. It could be rewritten as:
My life would be happier if English were not in the world.
or
My life would be happier if there were no English in the world. |
Negative.
Birder is right - it's a subjunctive sentence.
According to Practical English Usage -
| Quote: |
567 subjunctive
1 What is the subjunctive?
Some languages have special verb forms called 'subjunctive', which are used especially to talk about unreal situations: things which are possible, desirable, or imaginary. Older English had subjunctives, but in modern English they have mostly been replaced by uses of should, would and other modal verbs, by special uses of past tense (see 426), and by ordinary verb forms. English only has a few subjunctive forms left: third person singular present verbs without -(e)s, (e.g. she see, he have) and special forms of be (e.g. I be, he were). Except for I/he/she/it were after if, they are not very common. |
Clearly, this is a subjunctive sentence - if there were not English in the world. We have the word if, and we're talking about a situation that is possible, desirable, or imaginary.
Koreatimes, your argument is irrelevant. Yes, the situation matters, but that's a matter of appropriateness, not of the structure, which is what the OP asked about. While PEU points out that the subjunctive has mostly been replaced in the way you describe, it is quite clear that the third person singular still uses the subjunctive - which is exactly what this sentence is and exactly grammatically correct. |
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