Was vs were in a sentence?

Was vs were in a sentence?

If there is one noun, the verb is singular, but if there are more than two nouns, the verb is plural. “Was” is a singular verb form and “were” is a plural verb form. This is why we exercise narrative rules for each verb form. “They” or “we” implies multiple nouns (were), while “I” or “you” conveys one noun (was).

Was or were in conditional sentences?

If the verb in the if clause is “to be,” use “were,” even if the subject of the clause is a third person singular subject (i.e., he, she, it). See the examples below for an illustration of this exception: If I was a rich man, I would make more charitable donations.

Why do we say if I were?

The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the SUBJUNCTIVE mood which is used for hypothetical situations. In the subjunctive mood we use IF + I / HE / SHE / IT + WERE for the verb To Be.

Is it correct to say if I were?

Many people use if I was and if I were interchangeably to describe a hypothetical situation. The confusion occurs because when writing in the past tense, I was is correct while I were is incorrect. However, when writing about non-realistic or hypothetical situations, if I were is the only correct choice.

Is it only if or if only?

If only and only if are similar expressions that are used in different ways. If only expresses a hope or wish: If only I had a real choice in the matter.

Is if she were correct grammar?

“If she was” is past tense, indicative mood. It describes something that happened or may have happened in the past. “If she were” is present tense, subjunctive mood. It describes a hypothetical situation that is not true.

Had Should were instead of if?

was / were – We often use were instead of was after if. Both was and were are used in formal English, but only was is used in informal English. If I were you……If vs. Were / Had / Should.

Can we replace if with had?

In formal situations, we can use had + subject + verb instead of if in third conditional sentences: Had I known you were waiting outside, I would have invited you to come in. (If I had known you were waiting outside …)

Had I known VS If I had known?

“Had I known” is just another, slightly shorter, way of saying “if I had known”, so the difference between your two phrases is just a difference of tense. If I knew is in the simple past tense. If I had known / Had I known is in the past perfect tense. “If I know what the answer is, I will tell you.”

What can we use in place of if?

1. Replacing if

• as long as.
• assuming (that)
• on condition (that)
• on the assumption (that)
• provided (that)
• supposing (that)
• unless.
• with the condition (that)

How do you use if correctly?

We use “if” in what we sometimes call in grammar the “if clauses” that form part of the conditional tenses. The “if” part of the sentence is the condition whilst the second part of the sentence is the result.

What is the difference between in case of and if?

Here, “if” is used to present a conditional situation (dependent it raining), while “in case” is a precaution (done to prepare for the rain). “In case” is usually used to show that an action is being taken, or preparations have been made, as a precaution – so the action or event is completed based on a possibility.

Why do we use if clauses?

First conditional sentences are used to express situations in which the outcome is likely (but not guaranteed) to happen in the future. Note that we use the simple present tense in the if-clause and simple future tense in the main clause—that is, the clause that expresses the likely outcome.

What is a Type 2 if clause?

If Clauses – Type 2 is used to express dreams, unreal situations and things that are unlikely to happen. In other words, The condition specified in the clause is not actual but is a condition that is currently being imagined. Although the verb is used in the past, we use type 2 when talking about present time or now.

Will in if clause?

The short answer is no, but there are exceptions to the rule. An if- or when-clause (often used to form conditional sentences) generally does not contain “will,” which is the simple future tense of the verb “to be.” One exception is when the action in the if- or when-clause takes place after that in the main clause.

Will and would in the same sentence?

For instance: I would propose her if I got a chance, but I know she will definitely reject. If absolutely necessary I will go to china, but I would prefer somebody from Head Office to manage it.

Would vs Will future?

And English learners often get these two confused because they’re used in very similar situations. But they’re not the same. The main difference between will and would is that will is used for real possibilities while would is used for imagined situations in the future. Of course, this a simple explanation.

Should is past or future?

Would, should and could are three auxiliary verbs that can be defined as past tenses of will, shall, and can; however, you may learn more from seeing sentences using these auxiliaries than from definitions. Examples of usage follow.

Could is past or future?

The use of ‘could’, ‘would’, or ‘will be’ all imply future tense. The past tense version would be: “You could not have made me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world who could have made you so.”

Would you or will you?

Would: How They’re Different (and How to Use Each) The main difference between will and would is that would can be used in the past tense but will cannot. Also, would is commonly used to refer to a future event that may occur under specific conditions, while will is used more generally to refer to future events.

Do you come or will you come?

Which sentence is correct, “when will you come” or “when do you come”? “When will you come?” is correct. ‘When will you come’ would be the most normal to use. The verb ‘to do’ in ‘when do you come’ seems a little out of place in the sentence – and it suggests something reoccurring.

Would you or will you marry me?

‘ is correct. ‘Would you marry me? ‘Will you marry me’ is a direct question, and when you ask it, you are literally asking someone if they would commit themselves to you at that moment, and it requires an answer. ‘Would you marry me’ is a vague question that asks of possiblities.

Could you please vs Would you please?

What is the difference between Could you please and Would You please ? Which one is more polite ? Both are commonly used to ask someone to do something, so there is not a big difference between them in the meaning. Would you please may be considered as slightly more polite than Could you please.