Whenever I try to explain the differences between this grammar
rule and that one, authors and clients will say something like, "Will you
please speak in English?’" so I began teaching such things with the technical
label for a specific form of grammar, followed by a simple explanation of it.
Was and were, however, often suffer PMS. They have moods just
like people do. So they’re a bit more difficult to explain, especially to young
students.
Here’s an example of what I mean. Everyone I work with, whether
kids doing homework or writers pounding out their next stories, struggle with
was and were. There are to
be
forms of was and were, but there are also the subjunctive forms of was and were.
Subjunctive verbs are the forms I see misused the most by writers.
To be verbs—was and were—are the forms we all recognize. He was
a little boy. We were going to the theater when John slipped and fell.
Subjunctive is mood. I wish I were blond. I’m
in a wishful mood and want to be blond, so the subjunctive were is
correct.
Another hint that the verb is subjunctive is the word if often followed by would or could. If I were blonde, I could
have everything I wanted in life. The if is imaginative and the could
implies that it won’t happen or isn’t possible. If I were tall, I would
pluck the moon from the sky. Again if followed by would shows
that it’s imagination, a fantasy, and the would shows that plucking
the moon out of the sky isn’t possible.
So when is it correct to use was? If it might be true,
if you’re assuming or guessing something, then use was. The sale began
early. If Jane was late, she probably missed some great
deals. I don’t know that Jane was late. I’m only guessing, so was is
correct.
Determining the context is how you decide whether to use
was or were. Does the sentence use if to show a wishful statement?
Does the sentence use could or would to imply something won’t
happen or isn’t possible? Or does the sentence show something that might be
true?
There are other mood verbs, which is something all writers and
students should study and learn inside and out. Not knowing the correct verb
form can give your sentence the wrong meaning. As an editor, I encounter this a
lot.
Like I said, was and
were are moody. Learn as much as you can about them. Don’t make your editor
moody too (winks).
