KEN JPN
Junior Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Member Type
- Retired English Teacher
- Native Language
- Japanese
- Home Country
- Japan
- Current Location
- Philippines
In the past subjunctive, the predicative verb takes a past form.
Among such verbs, only WERE looks exceptional in that WERE was used even with "I". In modern English, "I wish I was" is also heard in colloquial English but lately there is a tendency that more people regard WERE to be strictly correct and WAS to be vulgar.
What is the reason that WERE, not WAS, was/is used for past subjunctive regardless of the subject?
Thank you in advance, as always
Among such verbs, only WERE looks exceptional in that WERE was used even with "I". In modern English, "I wish I was" is also heard in colloquial English but lately there is a tendency that more people regard WERE to be strictly correct and WAS to be vulgar.
What is the reason that WERE, not WAS, was/is used for past subjunctive regardless of the subject?
Thank you in advance, as always