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a person would use were when expressing feelings in cases which are not true, also called the subjunctive mood. "if i were you, i would...." "i wish she were here...". then, he would use was to express true statements "if he was there i didn't see him." he was in fact there.

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15y ago
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6d ago

Use "were" when referring to multiple people or things in the past tense (e.g., They were at the store). Use "was" when referring to a single person or thing in the past tense (e.g., She was happy).

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Q: When to use were vs was in written grammar usage?
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When to use were vs where in written grammar usage?

Were is the past tense of the word "been". Where on the other hand refers to a location. So the 2 words cannot be used interchangeably.


What are the most common Grammar mistakes?

Some common grammar mistakes include subject-verb agreement errors, incorrect word usage (like their/there/they're), and lack of punctuation or improper use of punctuation marks. It's also common to see run-on sentences or sentence fragments in writing.


What are the greatest grammar challenges?

Some of the greatest grammar challenges include knowing when to use apostrophes correctly (e.g. it's vs its), understanding subject-verb agreement (e.g. the dog runs vs the dog run), and knowing when to use commas appropriately (e.g. separating items in a list or clauses in a sentence).


Does written standard English differ between countries?

Yes, written standard English can differ between countries due to variations in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. For example, American English and British English have differences in spelling (such as "color" vs. "colour"), vocabulary (such as "truck" vs. "lorry"), and even punctuation preferences. While they are largely mutually intelligible, these variations can create differences in written communication.


What are the three dichotomies of linguistics?

The three main dichotomies of linguistics are: synchrony vs. diachrony (study of language at a specific point in time vs. over time), competence vs. performance (knowledge of language vs. its use in context), and langue vs. parole (language system vs. actual instances of language use).

Related questions

When to use were vs where in written grammar usage?

Were is the past tense of the word "been". Where on the other hand refers to a location. So the 2 words cannot be used interchangeably.


Are vs is grammar usage?

Are is used with plural nouns, is is used with singular nouns. "He is" but "they are" "A goose is" but "Geese are" and so forth.


English grammar When is it correct to use appreciative for vs appreciative of or does it matter?

The appropriate pronoun to be used here is 'of', and the examples given in most dictionaries and thesauri of the usage of the word 'appreciative' will confirm this. Confusion arises from the influence of similar constructions with the words 'grateful', 'thankful' and so on, which use the pronoun 'for'.


What are the most common Grammar mistakes?

Some common grammar mistakes include subject-verb agreement errors, incorrect word usage (like their/there/they're), and lack of punctuation or improper use of punctuation marks. It's also common to see run-on sentences or sentence fragments in writing.


What are the greatest grammar challenges?

Some of the greatest grammar challenges include knowing when to use apostrophes correctly (e.g. it's vs its), understanding subject-verb agreement (e.g. the dog runs vs the dog run), and knowing when to use commas appropriately (e.g. separating items in a list or clauses in a sentence).


Why do people on WikiAnswers use bad grammar all the time?

You have to bear in mind that this is a global site used by people of levels of intelligence. Some users may not be as fluent in English as you or I - and you need to make allowances. Additionally, since there is no minimum age limit, they may be too young to understand how sentences should be structured.Also, there are different dialects of English. While most use American English on this site, some also use British English. Some of the spelling differences include "extra" or "missing" letters (pedophile vs. paedophile, estrogen vs. oestrogen), 'Z' usage vs. 'S' usage (legalize vs. legalise), 'C' vs. 'S' usage (licence vs. license), etc.Then there is laziness and chat speech. This site is sort of in the middle when it comes to strictness and formality. While slang is allowed and a lot of the 'finer' grammar rules are ignored (so we have things like passive voice, split infinitives, ending sentences with prepositions), chat speech and obscure slang are discouraged, and profanity is not allowed. The rules include style guides to follow. As strict as they may seem to some people, they are not anywhere close to MLA standards in terms of strictness.


Red vs blue revelation?

Red vs. Blue Revelation (originally named Resolution) is the final to the Recollections trilogy. It's the season with major usage of animation which they use a lot of. It may be the end of the trilogy but it still leaves you wondering what's next.


How do you measure ounces vs grams?

For common usage count each ounce as 30 grams.


What is the correct grammar of their vs there?

Their: includes someone's property There: is location (think of whERE; thERE) They're (they are) going over there (location) to get their (property) xbox.


What laptop for good long term usage and no-nonsense use sony vaio vpcea43eg vs toshiba l650-i5311 among this?

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When should you use anyday vs any day?

Actually, in all cases, you should use "any day." Anyday isn't a correct usage. It might become so at some time in the future as the language evolves, but right now, it is not an acceptable spelling.


What has the author LAURENCE BONJOUR written?

LAURENCE BONJOUR has written: 'EPISTEMIC JUSTIFICATION: INTERNALISM VS. EXTERNALISM, FOUNDATIONS VS. VIRTUES'