Help! Was-Were?

I have a serious problem! A problem I can't solve. Or think the answer too. Lennon song: ...you'd wish you was Brittish.

Shouldn't it be: ...you'd wish you were brittish?

I never quite got when to use "was" and when to use "were", as it was... were... when?.. 😕

Oh, and I'm serious. I really don't know. Anyone?

The Beatles were from downtown Liverpool. They didn't know either.

Originally posted by thyme
The Beatles were from downtown Liverpool. They didn't know either.

YouTube&feature=related

Some use was 😉
"No because there was this whole fing because the other day we was all in the park and we was all laughing because nicola said she was gonna set fire to Candice's hair but then Ryan Morris butted in who I hate and then we started gettin' off together and he phlegmed in my mouth and I was like Oh my god I so can't believe you just ded that then there was this whole over feng because you know Amanda Kaye right? Well she told Ian Buchan she'd do it for a creme egg?" Vicky Pollard.

Originally posted by yo its me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzUniIMIuGU&feature=related

Some use was 😉
"No because there was this whole fing because the other day we was all in the park and we was all laughing because nicola said she was gonna set fire to Candice's hair but then Ryan Morris butted in who I hate and then we started gettin' off together and he phlegmed in my mouth ...[text shortened]... w Amanda Kaye right? Well she told Ian Buchan she'd do it for a creme egg?" Vicky Pollard.

Originally posted by Jigtie
I have a serious problem! A problem I can't solve. Or think the answer too. Lennon song: ...you'd wish you was Brittish.

Shouldn't it be: ...you'd wish you [b]were brittish?

I never quite got when to use "was" and when to use "were", as it was... were... when?.. 😕

Oh, and I'm serious. I really don't know. Anyone?[/b]

Originally posted by Jigtie
I have a serious problem! A problem I can't solve. Or think the answer too. Lennon song: ...you'd wish you was Brittish.

Shouldn't it be: ...you'd wish you [b]were brittish?

I never quite got when to use "was" and when to use "were", as it was... were... when?.. 😕

Oh, and I'm serious. I really don't know. Anyone?[/b]

Originally posted by HandyAndy
[b]Was is past tense. Were is the subjunctive mood, used to express a wish or something that isn't factual.

I wish I were in Alaska. If I were younger I would move there.[/b]

Originally posted by Jigtie
I have a serious problem! A problem I can't solve. Or think the answer too. Lennon song: ...you'd wish you was Brittish.

Shouldn't it be: ...you'd wish you [b]were brittish?

I never quite got when to use "was" and when to use "were", as it was... were... when?.. 😕

Oh, and I'm serious. I really don't know. Anyone?[/b]

Originally posted by Nordlys
It should be "British". 😉

Originally posted by Nordlys
[b]Were is also the past tense of the second person.

You were in Alaska. (Er, were you?)[/b]

Originally posted by Jigtie
Do you?

Originally posted by thyme
You do.

Originally posted by Jigtie
I do now, yes. Thanks to HandyAndy and Noodles over there. 🙂

I also now know that you spell brittish with only one t. So, british. Thanks Noodles. 🙂

But wouldn't that be pronounced brightish, then? 🙄















I'm not very brightish at all, am I? 😕

Originally posted by HandyAndy
True.. also first person plural (we). I was merely providing the distinction for the example given.