Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[neverenough]

This is addressed to doliver, who is a moderator and I assume the same as Dennis Oliver who is credited for creating a "quiz" in the quizzes section of this website or anyone who wants to respond.

Two of the questions in the quiz are as follows:

1. If it _____ raining, I'd work outside today.
2. If Joe _______ in an important meeting, he would go home and take a
nap.

Now I realize my English grammar is not the strongest point of my English but I and many people I have asked believe the correct answer should be
"wasn't" but that is not one of the three choices given. The "correct" answer given is "weren't". If this is true, can someone please give me the grammatical reason why? Thank you in advance.

[doliver]

Hi, Neverenough.

You wrote:

[Hayde]

Yes, I agree with doliver, weren't is proper for written English, and I have even heard a couple people say it, but I never say that. I always say wasn't myself. Both are correct in spoken English now.

[doliver]

Just remember that while knowing what is commonly used in informal spoken English is important, what is appropriate for formal and written English is probably more important. That doesn't mean that "if I wasn't" is wrong; what it means is that "if I weren't" is considered more appropriate in educated, formal situations in which one is expected to use his or her "best" English.

D. Oliver
_________________
Dennis Oliver
Estrella Mountain Community College
Avondale, AZ U.S.A.
http://www.emc.maricopa.edu