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
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 informally If writing in a formal context, it might
Is it idiomatic to say I just played or I was just playing in . . . If someone asks what you were doing this morning, you typically answer with the transitive form of the verb and state what you were playing: I played a round of golf I was playing hockey You could use it as a way to say "No" when invited to play a game or a match or something similar For example: Want to play a game of chess? I just played
meaning in context - Use of were to in English grammar - English . . . But I cannot rule out the possibility that Indian English—and specifically Indian Political English—has evolved this usage of were to precisely in order to express firmness and caution in the same utterance Perhaps our Indian readers could speak to this † This use is called subjunctive in traditional grammar
grammar - As if it was it were it had been - English Language . . . 0 Which of the three options is the correct one for this sentence? Why? The friends found a strange old map under the bed They were very impressed because it was dirty as if it was it were it had been very ancient