No. 'Were' is plural.
Which languages are dying in Europe?
I also made the mistake their/there in a post here. The lack of an edit-function sure exposes us as retards.
«Paul Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:01 am GMT
No. 'Were' is plural. »
Nah, that's not the problem. I found where that problem is. You were there (2nd person singular) is not plural.
If I were you or I wish I were you. In these cases it should be 'were'. I understand that problem now. In Dutch both are the same in such cases.
Because of this I thought 'were' would also be correct in other sentences like:
I was walking to the park
When I was there something strange happened in the garden.
But now I see it's not correct here
No. 'Were' is plural. »
Nah, that's not the problem. I found where that problem is. You were there (2nd person singular) is not plural.
If I were you or I wish I were you. In these cases it should be 'were'. I understand that problem now. In Dutch both are the same in such cases.
Because of this I thought 'were' would also be correct in other sentences like:
I was walking to the park
When I was there something strange happened in the garden.
But now I see it's not correct here
English tenses are deceivingly complicated. Learning English is like running on a straight slope, but an amazingly long one. You will be able to converse in English very soonly after studying it, but you will won't be able to analyse its grammar.
I know I don't know the rules of English, due to my laziness and lack of caring.
I know I don't know the rules of English, due to my laziness and lack of caring.
Some question:
Why is : God bless ..... and not God blesses?
Why is: THE Coca cola comapny and not Cocacola Comapny?
Why is : God bless ..... and not God blesses?
Why is: THE Coca cola comapny and not Cocacola Comapny?
I think the first is a usage of the elusive English subjunctive. As in "Peace be with you". The 'Coca Cola company' is being treated here as a noun phrase.
"In Italy we are losting 5 languages. "
You seem to be losting English too.
ooops.
You seem to be losting English too.
ooops.
<<As far as I know "I were" is the formal form, where "I was" is informal.
I were there
I was there
Both mean the same.
So can you explain why "I weren't" is incorrect? >>
"I was" is past indicative; "I were" is past subjunctive
It is possible to say "I weren't" in English and be correct:
"If I weren't the wrong height, I would try out for the basketball team."
I were there
I was there
Both mean the same.
So can you explain why "I weren't" is incorrect? >>
"I was" is past indicative; "I were" is past subjunctive
It is possible to say "I weren't" in English and be correct:
"If I weren't the wrong height, I would try out for the basketball team."
"Why is : God bless ..... and not God blesses? "
This is easy. They're using the conjunctive form in "God bless". It's used to express a wish. A puny human cannot decide for God, but only hope they're on God's side.
When talking about higher powers, more modest and archaic language is in its place.
This is easy. They're using the conjunctive form in "God bless". It's used to express a wish. A puny human cannot decide for God, but only hope they're on God's side.
When talking about higher powers, more modest and archaic language is in its place.
<<"Why is : God bless ..... and not God blesses? " This is easy. They're using the conjunctive form in "God bless". It's used to express a wish.>>
Correct, although here it's referred to as the subjunctive mood rather than the conjunctive due to the lack of a conjunction, but all in all: same thing.
"God bless" really means => "[May] God bless [you]" and thus conveys the wishful desire
Correct, although here it's referred to as the subjunctive mood rather than the conjunctive due to the lack of a conjunction, but all in all: same thing.
"God bless" really means => "[May] God bless [you]" and thus conveys the wishful desire
Cimbric-a High German dialect (or language) spoken in Verona and Vicenza areas of Italy.
<<I meant the 'subjunctive' form of course. lol >>
No. You were still pretty much right on! Subjunctive and Conjunctive can be used almost interchangeably :-)
No. You were still pretty much right on! Subjunctive and Conjunctive can be used almost interchangeably :-)
K B : « I heard someone say that Dutch is a dying language. Is it true? »
Non, c'est absolument faux !
Non, c'est absolument faux !
Je précise que c'est faux pour la Hollande, mais en Belgique la langue de nos chers amis hollandais est morte. C'est bien normal, puisque le français est bien supérieur culturellement. Quand on regarde la culture hollandaise, il y a de quoi avoir envie de dégueuler.