No, it's not a plural; it's the simple past subjunctive of "to be", which is "were" for all persons. See my article from earlier today: https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/151873/subject-inversion-in-the-correlative-comparative-construction, and my article from November 23rd regarding the subjunctive: https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/148091/if-you-explained-what-you-trying-to-achieve-i-would/148110#148110. Here are some examples of the subjunctive although some of them are a bit old-fashioned or archaic or highly formal: > If **I were** the President of the United States, **I would** cut > taxes. (both "were" and "would" are simple past subjunctives of "to > be" and "will" respectively.) > > If **I wanted** you to get involved, **I would** ask for your help. > (both "wanted" and "would" are simple past subjunctives of "to want" > and "will" respectively.) > > If **I be elected** President, I shall cut taxes. ("be" is the simple > present subjunctive of "to be".) > > If **I were elected** President, **I should** cut taxes. ("were" and > "should" are simple past subjunctives of "to be" and "shall".) > > I shall do it if **he** so **want** me to. ("want" is the simple > present subjunctive of "to want".) > > It's important that **they be** on their best behavior. (simple > present subjunctive) > > I demand that **she answer** me! ("answer" is the simple present > subjunctive of "to answer".) > > O that **she were** mine! (simple past subjunctive) > > If **I had gone** to the party, I **would** have had a great time. > (past perfect subjunctive of "to go") > > It's imperative that **he have finished** college by the time he is > 23-years-old. (present perfect subjunctive of "to finish".) > > He talks as though **he knew** everything there is about being in > love. (simple past subjunctive of "to know".) > > I wish **the subjunctive were used** more. (simple past subjunctive) > > I pray that **the subjunctive be revived**. (simple present subjunctive) The subjunctive is somewhat fancy and formal, but it is still considered good English today; in fact, in some instances, it is considered really good English. It was more popular during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries than it is today, although it's been experiencing somewhat of a revival since it is quite frequently used in American English, particularly the *mandative subjunctive*: > I recommend that **she not do** that. It is also very popular in literature, especially literature from the nineteenth century and earlier centuries: > "Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered > in, they must lead," said Scrooge. "But if **the courses be departed** > from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me." > *Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, 19 December 1843.* > > "The basis of our governments [sic] being the opinion of the people, > the very first object should be to keep that right; and **were it > left** to me to decide whether we should have a government without > newspapers, or newspapers without a government, **I should** not hesitate > a moment to prefer the latter. But **I should** mean that every man should > receive those papers and be capable of reading them." *Letter from > Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 16 January 1787, Paris, > France.* I hope this might have helped you out. If you should have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Take care and good luck!