What is the difference between were and have been? What is the difference between "were" and "have been", and are these sentences gramatically correct? 1) some of the best known writers of detective fiction in the twentieth century were women
Meaning using was to and were to in sentence That is, both "were to" (using the irrealis "were") and "was to" (using a past-tense verb) would usually be interchangeable in a sentence structured similar to yours, but that would be if the sentence was in non-fiction text
Should I use was or were in as though he was frightened? Technically, you should use 'were' You are correct that the sentence is subjunctive because of the indefiniteness introduced by 'as though' The subjunctive takes the plural form of the past tense of 'to be' as its auxiliary verb, even in the singular Having said that, many expert native English speakers will use 'was', both formally and
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