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Thread: to be to

  1. #1
    licinio is offline Junior Member
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    Default to be to

    If she were to eat fish more often, she might get to like it.

    Can I say "was to" instead of "were to"?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: to be to

    Quote Originally Posted by licinio View Post
    Can I say "was to" instead of "were to"?
    Yes. Purists prefer the subjunctive 'were', but many native speakers aren't too concerned about it.

    Note that there is no infinitive form of the verb, i.e no '(to) be to'. If we wish to refer to the verb we have to use some cumbersome form such as 'am/are/is(/was/were) to'.
    licinio likes this.

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