WAS—WERE
In the subjunctive mood the plural form were should
be used with a singular subject; as, "If I were," not was.
Remember the plural form of the personal pronoun you always takes
were, though it may denote but one. Thus, "You were," never
"you was." "If I was him" is a very common expression. Note the
two mistakes in it,—that of the verb implying a condition, and that of
the objective case of the pronoun. It should read If I were he. This is
another illustration of the rule regarding the verb To Be, taking the
same case after it as before it; were is part of the verb To Be,
therefore as the nominative (I) goes before it, the nominative (he) should come
after it. |
