(A) He talks about his wife as if she WERE an angel descended from heaven. (B) He talks about his wife as if she WAS an angel descended from heaven.
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Does this answer your question? If he were Or If he was. Also Why is it "If I were you" and not "If I was you"? and many more.– FumbleFingersCommented Sep 24, 2023 at 12:27
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2 Answers
(A) He talks about his wife as if she WERE an angel descended from heaven.
Formal style.
(B) He talks about his wife as if she WAS an angel descended from heaven.
Informal style.
Both are possible.
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That doesn't make things any clearer! I am still as clueless as before. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 8:05
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@IftikharShafia It's an "unreal" comparison, things we know that are not true. It's the same as: He talks as if he WAS rich. (But he is definitely not). In a formal style, WERE can be used instead of WAS: He talks as if he WERE rich. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 8:11
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In formal English, when using the verb 'be' in an if clause for an unreal conditional sentence, we conjugate it as were, no matter what the subject is. This is true even if the subject is first-person singular (I) or third-person singular (he, she, or it).
In your example sentence, the man's wife is not an angel descended from heaven.
If I were a rich man, I’d buy a baseball team (I am not a rich man).
If I were the king, I'd sell all my palaces (I am not the king).
However, in informal spoken English, many people ignore this and use was instead, possibly because they think it 'sounds better'.
answered Sep 24, 2023 at 8:27
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I say you have cracked my problem in one. If you want to prove your erudition, use were; otherwise, if you are just a pedestrian, use was. I think I have got the gist of it. Thank you. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 8:40
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@IftikharShafia - your comment about 'proving erudition' is misplaced. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 9:02
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"Erudition", in this context, means strict adherence to grammar and its rules, or at least that is what I was thinking of. Of course, if my comment is grossly out of place then I have no hesitation in withdrawing it. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 10:43
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@IftikharShafia - OK. I thought you meant 'boasting about one's learning' which is an unwelcome suggestion, and inaccurate as a general observation. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 11:13
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No, Sir, absolutely not! I wasn't being rude to you. I have my shortcomings, but heaven forbid I should be so ill-bred as to say such a thing to one who is trying to help me with my English. Commented Sep 24, 2023 at 11:48