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Thread: that wasn't drugs or that weren't drugs

  1. #1
    allthewayanime is offline Member
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    Default that wasn't drugs or that weren't drugs

    Which one is correct:
    That wasn't drugs or That weren't drugs.

  2. #2
    SlickVic9000's Avatar
    SlickVic9000 is offline Member
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    Default Re: that wasn't drugs or that weren't drugs

    Those weren't drugs.
    bhaisahab and 5jj like this.

  3. #3
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    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
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    Default Re: that wasn't drugs or that weren't drugs

    Quote Originally Posted by allthewayanime View Post
    Which one is correct: "That wasn't drugs" or "That weren't drugs."
    It does rather depend on the context. If we are talking about a number of things that were found in Fred's possession, and somebody claims that they were drugs, Bill, knowing that they were actually harmless vitamin pills might say, "Those (the pills) weren't drugs" (as SlickVic wrote).

    However, if we are talking about what caused Fred to do something rather unpleasant last night, and and somebody claims that his behaviour was caused by drugs, Bill, knowing that Fred's mad behaviour is frequently brought on by alcohol might say, "That (the behaviour) wasn't (caused by) drugs".

    "That weren't drugs" is unacceptable in Standard BrE and AmE.

    As we say so often in this forum, context is important.
    bhaisahab likes this.

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