This is probably my biggest pet peeve when it comes to grammar: the subjunctive mood.
Let's clarify what the subjunctive mood is. For many of you, your foreign language classes have mentioned this mood, and you have forgotten it quickly.
What it is is a mood indicating doubt, hope, or desire. So basically, it covers anything that has not happened yet.
Here is a commonly mistaken phrase:
"I wish I was in Madrid."
No way, amigo.
It should read, "I wish I were in Madrid."
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Same goes for "If I was a rich girl, na na na na na na na."
It should be, "If I were a rich girl, na na na na na na na."
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So basically, whenever you say "if," "wish," "hope," "doubt," etcetera, you use "were" as the verb. "Is" is also acceptable at times when it makes sense.
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If you were to say "I wish I was in Madrid," you are saying that you desire you are somewhere even though you are technically there based off of what you said. "Was" triggers use of the indicative mood: a mood used for stating fact.
Just one of my rants.
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7 comments:
Oh Ben, you and your grammar
the subjunctive tense is the worst tense in the world. It should be destroyed
Ben, you rock. oh and btdubs i love your blog "profile" or whatev, its so cute, republican, and you.
Anatole, I would have to say that although you may not agree with gays having children it is still not your or anyone’s place to prohibit it. Gays can still have children when they are not legally married by the way.... so I don’t see how this has anything to do with it. Speaking as someone who is very close to her gay aunt, and understanding the discrimination she feels on this topic, I understand how dehumanizing it is to be denied equal rights as other Americans. There are many couples people would not see fit to be parents, but they are not prohibited from marrying and having children. The reason children would be made fun of by other children for having gay parents is because they learn this from their homophobic parents. I also believe that most of the complaints against gays are based on a religious foundation...what about separation of church and state? How can you make a law based on a religious belief? People should be able to marry whoever they want. Some people get married and do not have children and receive tax breaks....what’s the difference? I don’t really understand your argument besides that you don’t agree gays should marry because you believe it is between a man and a woman, and that’s fine. You don’t have to marry a man. But you shouldn’t get to decide for other people. I actually used to be a supporter of using the term "civil union" to appease religious groups until I realized that is BS because just because your gay doesn’t mean you are not religious...and if you want a MARRIAGE you should be able to have one. God says thou shall not kill but that doesn't seem to be so frowned upon. Look at the war. Sure it’s a "noble cause" but I think we always make it out that way in order to escape the fact that we are still committing sin. I think Gandhi was a lot nobler then any war fought for our country. BEN, STOP THINKING WITH YOUR WALLET! and i am absolutely not attacking christianity. im attacking hypocritical christians (judaism,islam,christianity)who choose certain parts of the bible to follow strictly....like gays marrying....and ignore important parts like love thy neighbor, and thou shalt not kill. I was born and raised christian and watching so many hypocrits drove me away. I have studied all the main religions both privately and in multiple classes. I have read the Bible.Im not speaking out of my ass.
Chelsea is on the wrong article/weblog.
Thats cool Ben, I know that I say that a lot and now I'm going to have to think about it. But what about if somebody is telling a story where they're saying they were somewhere but they wish they were somewhere else?
Hey Brendan.
In the case you described, you would say "I had wished I were at/in . . ."
But if you are trying to write a novel and are generally writing in the present tense, then you would say it just as you would anything since a character is probably saying the line:
"I wish I were in Tobago."
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