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Grammar gurus; which is correct, 'it would be better if Karen were assessed by an external organisation' or *was* assessed by an external..

Posted - June 15, 2018
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Responses


  • 23577
    I've usually understood that "were" is used after the word "if." (Instead of "was.") There are probably exceptions to that, I'd assume.
    :)
      June 15, 2018 11:20 AM MDT
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  • 6477
    That's exactly what I thought.. I was sent that by the HR dept and although I am no grammar nut - I was a little peeved to have received a report choc full of grammar errors. 
      June 15, 2018 12:12 PM MDT
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  • 44617
    Nobody will touch this for fear of getting corrected by 'you know whom'.
      June 15, 2018 12:02 PM MDT
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  • 6477
    lol wimps, wusses... c'mon guys - rise, (so to speak) to the challenge.. I want to correct my HR dept and it would look seriously rubbish if I correct them and *I've* got it wrong! I've been corrected a time or three on here for my grammar, the least this forum can do is help me correct others :P 
      June 15, 2018 12:25 PM MDT
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  • 7280
    And if you had chosen to use active rather than passive voice, would you have said "You know whom would correct this" or "You know who will correct this"?
      June 15, 2018 3:22 PM MDT
    1

  • 44617
    I like mine better.
      June 15, 2018 4:55 PM MDT
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  • 1500
    Difficult to speak of 'correct' here; as so often, it's a matter of taste.

    "Were" would in this case express the subjunctive mood (more clearly conveyed in Romance languages, e.g. Spanish), which entails such nuances as emotion, hypothesis, or incertitude. If we were to assume that the writer knew what they were doing, their choice of "was" may value directness and conviction over discretion and politeness.

    Technically it is correct though generally ill-advised (so I do agree with Welby and you); I don't care much provided I be convinced that the other know (more subjunctives there) the distinction. This post was edited by Danilo_G at June 15, 2018 4:55 PM MDT
      June 15, 2018 1:02 PM MDT
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  • 6477
     A fascinating explanation!  As I have mentioned we were not taught grammar when I was at school, a whole generation missed out.
      June 15, 2018 1:57 PM MDT
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  • 5835
    "Were" is the conditional case, introduced by "if".
      June 15, 2018 1:33 PM MDT
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  • 17596
    If is not required....just the possibility of a future occurrence.  

    Suppose I were to run for Congress next term....what then?
      June 15, 2018 2:24 PM MDT
    4

  • 7280
    In this case, the use (not "the expression of") of the subjunctive mood is required:

    The mood of the verb "to be" when you use the phrase "I were" is called the subjunctive mood, and you use it when you're talking about something that isn't true or you're being wishful.

    (If) the part that follows the subjunctive verb contains a word such as "would" or "could." I would declare a holiday. We could reach the cat. Those wishful words are also a clue that you may need the subjunctive mood.
      June 15, 2018 2:33 PM MDT
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  • 369
    Grammar is in decline and I blame e/mail and text messages.
      June 15, 2018 2:38 PM MDT
    3

  • 19937
    "Was."  "Karen" is the singular subject.  If it read Karen and John, it would be "were."
      June 15, 2018 3:27 PM MDT
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  • 43
    I'm with you on that.
      June 15, 2018 8:14 PM MDT
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  • 17596
    This is somewhere around fifth grade level grammar.   Were is preferred  in this case. This post was edited by Thriftymaid at June 16, 2018 1:39 AM MDT
      June 15, 2018 9:30 PM MDT
    1

  • 19937

    Well, if it's a question of preference, that would mean either way is correct.  So, I prefer WAS.  Deal with it.

      June 15, 2018 11:08 PM MDT
    0

  • "were" is more formal, "was" is more colloquial. Use of "were" as subjunctive is falling out of usage, but many still use it (including me). 
      June 15, 2018 3:31 PM MDT
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  • 16781
    Were. Subjunctive case, regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural.

    Latin is easier, "ut" is a dead giveaway.
      June 15, 2018 6:48 PM MDT
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  • 34280
    Depends on if Karen has already been assessed (Was) or if Karen will be assessed in the future. (Were)
      June 15, 2018 8:39 PM MDT
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  • 5835
      June 15, 2018 9:57 PM MDT
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  • 53509

      If I were you, I would select "were".  (Actually, now that I think about it, it's more accurate for me to answer that if you were me, you would select "were", lol.)

      June 16, 2018 1:42 AM MDT
    2