"If Peter were to join Catherine and Nicholas ..."

[m1zzly]

"If Peter were to join Catherine and Nicholas..."

Why here is written "were", although correctly would be as I consider "was", due to it's "He" so must be "was"

The sentence is quite difficult to understand.

 

[Piscean]

'Were' is the subjunctive form of the verb. This is correct, though some people these days use 'was'.

 

[Tarheel]

Try:

Why is "were" used there instead of "was"?

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, M1zzly.

Click here to read more about the subjunctive mood.

Please note that I have changed your thread title. Titles must contain some or all of the word or phrases you are asking about.

Tarheel has suggested a neater way for you to ask your question.

 

[m1zzly]

Try:

Why is "were" used there instead of "was"?

Maybe because it refers to "They" ( Catherine and Nicholas ) and their company?

 

[m1zzly]

Try:

Why is "were" used there instead of "was"?

I think I have understood it. It is the same like " If I were you then ..." Am I right?

 

[SoothingDave]

I think I have understood it. It is the same like " If I were you then ..." Am I right?

Yes. The subjunctive mood is still used by many speakers when expressing counter-factual statements. Like "If I were you..."

https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/subju... a hypothetical scenario,I were an astronaut”).

 

[Tarheel]

I think I UNDERSTAND it. It is the same AS " If I were you then ..." Am I right?

 

[m1zzly]

Why UNDERSTAND if I mean I understood it in past and I have this knowledge by now?

 

[Tarheel]

Why UNDERSTAND if I mean I understood it in past and I have this knowledge by now?

That's a hard sentence to figure out. In any case, I don't know what "I've understood it" means.

 

[Tarheel]

@m1zzly You could say, for example, "I thought I understood you, but I was wrong."

 

[m1zzly]

@m1zzly You could say, for example, "I thought I understood you, but I was wrong."

Practise english more and you will get better

 

[emsr2d2]

Practise English more and you will get better.

That's great advice to give yourself.