Were Vs. Was -- Please help

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Were Vs. Was -- Please help

by blemming » Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:49 pm
I was under the impression that I use the word 'Was' when I am referring to something in the singular, ex) he was in the shopping mall last night.

I was also under the impression that the word 'Were' is used only in the plural sense, ex) the students were baking cookies.

However, a recent question on mgmat is as follows:

A recent and popular self-help book wryly notes that if adolescence was not so painful, it would have a droll comedic aspect, at least in retrospect.

The correct answer choice is : were not so painful, it.

Can someone please help me with this rule? I would have picked that answer prior to studying SC books, but now I am completely confused.

Please help,

Vinnie
Source: — Sentence Correction |

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by kevincanspain » Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:05 pm
When speaking hypothetically about the present or future, we use the 2nd conditional

If <condition>, <hypothetical result>


The condition must use the past subjunctive mood of the verb, which is identical to the simple past except for the verb be


Past subjunctive of be is were, regardless of the subject

If John were here now, he would know what to do.
If today were Friday, you would not be reading this.
Were China to impose sanctions on Iran, Obama would stop complaining about the dollar-renmimbi exchange rate
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by pradeepkaushal9518 » Mon Apr 12, 2010 9:20 pm
vinnie i had also gone through this type of question

if i were he, i would lay

in this were is used with I ....

and the explanations already given above by the experts.

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