Which is correct: “I wish I was…” or “I wish I were…”?

Which is correct: “I wish I was…” or “I wish I were…”?

Picture it. You’re texting your buddy, and you type out “I wish I were.” But there’s that pesky autocorrect, trying to change it to “I wish I was.” Is autocorrect ducking with you, or are you about to commit a grammar faux pas? 

First, a little grammar lesson …

Were and was are both past tense versions of the verb to be. But were is usually used in relation to second person singular and plural pronouns such as you, your, yours. It is also used with select first and third person plural pronouns such as we, they. 

We use was, on the other hand, when we’re using the first person singular pronoun I or using the third person singular such as he or she. 

For example, you wouldn’t say “You was going to the store.” You would say “You were going to the store.”

But you would say “I was going to the store,” rather than “I were going to the store.”

Got it? 

Why we say “I wish I were”

So, what happens when you’re talking about “I wish I were …” ? I is a first person singular pronoun, which is what makes using were seem confusing. Shouldn’t we always use was after I?

Nope!

“I wish I were” is actually the preference of grammar experts because you’re talking about something that hasn’t actually occurred. 

For example, “I wish I were on a beach right now with a pile of books” is something a dedicated
bibliomaniac
might say, and we’d love to join them!

This is correct because of something linguists call the subjunctive mood. Subjunctive refers to words that describe doubtful or hypothetical situations … like wishes for things that aren’t real!

However, sometimes we still hear “I wish I was” …

But, wait a second! 

“I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller …” and Pearl Jam’s “Wishlist” is littered with variations of “I wish I was.”

Well, let’s face it: Some of our favorite songs are chock full of grammatical errors. These 90s favorites aren’t exactly wrong. They’re simply non-standard. 

While grammarians will tell you to stick to “I wish I were” to follow the rules of the subjunctive, language has evolved, and the non-standard “I wish I was” has become increasingly popular. Our advice? 

If you’re looking to write a hit song, it’s fine to use the less formal “I wish I was.” If you’re writing a paper for your English professor, on the other hand, stick with the grammarians, and use “I wish I were.” 

Source: https://www.dictionary.com/e/wish-it-were-vs-was

********

Want to learn to teach English online? Work from your home.

My book: TEACH ENGLI$H ONLINE is available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback editions. Go to your closest Amazon site under books and search for

 “TEACH ENGLI$H ONLINE by Robert W. F. Taylor"

$7.00USD Kindle

$9.99USD Paperback

Third Conditional Clauses

Use Correct Tense with Third Conditional Sentences

Most English speakers have no difficulty with first and second conditional clauses, but a great many speakers get into trouble with the third conditional.
First a review.
Conditional clauses take their name from the fact that they place limits or conditions on the main clause they modify. Here are three examples of subordinate if clauses modifying main clauses:

First conditional: If you miss the bus, you will be late for school.
Second conditional: If I won the lottery, I would give my children a million dollars each.
Third conditional: If he had revealed his past before the marriage, she would not have married him.

The main clause in each sentence describes a situation that is unreal. The bus has not been missed. The lottery has not been won by the speaker. The man did not reveal his past before the marriage.
First Conditional
The situation described in the main clause is likely to happen. The if clause takes present tense and the main clause takes future tense.
Second Conditional
The situation described in the main clause could happen, but is not likely to happen. The if clause takes past tense, and the main clause takes would have + the past participle form of the verb.
Third Conditional
The if clause of the third conditional addresses a situation that did not happen in the past. The main clause speculates as to what might have happened if the action mentioned in the if clause had taken place.
In this situation, past perfect tense is used in the if clause, and present perfect in the main clause:

If you had dropped the vase, it would have shattered.

Many English speakers go to pieces with the third conditional by overdoing the woulds.
To illustrate, here are a few examples drawn from blogs, advertisements, news items, and the quoted speech of public figures.

INCORRECT: If they would have listened to the news and the weather reports, they would have been a little smarter.
CORRECT: If they had listened to the news and the weather reports, they would have been a little smarter.
INCORRECT: If they would have hired a better architect the desk area would have been closer to the plug.
CORRECT: If they had hired a better architect, the desk area would have been closer to the plug.
INCORRECT: If he would have said that, I would have thrown him out of the office.
CORRECT: If he had said that, I would have thrown him out of the office.
INCORRECT: What would have happened if they would have covered the paper with only wax and not the chitosan?
CORRECT: What would have happened if they had covered the paper with only wax and not the chitosan?
INCORRECT: Would have given 4 stars if they would have honored no spice request.
CORRECT: Would have given 4 stars if they had honored no spice request.

Remember, when the if clause refers to an action that did NOT occur in the past, use the past perfect and NOT the present perfect.
The word would should not appear in both clauses of a third conditional construction.

Source:https://www.dailywritingtips.com

Answers to 'So You Think English Is Easy?'

Answers to 'So You Think English Is Easy?'

Test your pronunciation skills with these sentences and remember the usual rule is that with a two syllable word, with a noun, the emphasis is usually on the first syllable while with a verb, the stress is generally on the second syllable. Sentences where there is only one syllable  in the confusing word (or sometimes two or more), it is a case of different pronunciation altogether. 

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present .
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

Answers:

In English, for every rule, there are exceptions!

1) The bandage was wound (WOW-nd) around the wound (WOO-nd).
2) The farm was used to produce (proDUCE) produce (PROduce).
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse (refuse) more refuse (REFuse).
4) We must polish (PAWlish) the Polish (Polish) furniture.
5) He could lead (LEED) if he would get the lead (LEH-D) out.
6) The soldier decided to desert (deSERT) his dessert (desSERT) in the desert (DESert).
7) Since there is no time like the present (PREsent), he thought it was time to present (present) the present (PREsent) .
8) A bass (BASS) was painted on the head of the bass (BASE) drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove (DUHve) DOH-ve)I nto the bushes.
10) I did not object (obJECT) to the object (OBject).
11) The insurance was invalid (inVALid) for the invalid (INvalid).
12) There was a row (RAU) among the oarsmen about how to row (RO).
13) They were too close (CLOSE) to the door to close (CLOZE) it.
14) The buck does (DUZ) funny things when the does (DOZ)are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer (SEWer) fell down into a sewer (SEU-er) line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow (SOW) to sow (SO).
17) The wind (WIND) was too strong to wind (WY-ND) the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear (TEHr) in the painting I shed a tear (TEEr).
19) I had to subject (subJECT) the subject (SUBject) to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate (intiMATE) this to my most intimate (INtimate) friend?

Tricky, huh!

So You Think English Is Easy?

Test your pronunciation skills with these sentences and remember the usual rule is that with a two syllable word, with a noun, the emphasis is usually on the first syllable while with a verb, the stress is generally on the second syllable. Sentences where there is only one syllable  in the confusing word (or sometimes two or more), it is a case of different pronunciation altogether. Answers tomorrow!

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present .
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

When to Use a Colon: Rules and Examples

When to Use a Colon: Rules and Examples

By Ali Hale

The colon can be a tricky punctuation mark. You’ve probably grasped periods, question marks, exclamation points, and commas – but the rules surrounding colons may seem a bit trickier.

There are two main ways to use colons:

• To introduce an item or a series of items.
• To replace a semi-colon between two independent clauses: the second clause should explain or expand on the first in some way.

As you can see, I’ve used both types of colon above.

Colons can trip writers up, though. Perhaps you’re not sure whether to use a capital letter after a colon, or you’re unsure how to structure a list of items that follows a colon.

We’re going to go through some key rules that will hopefully clear things up.

Rule #1: Use a Colon to Introduce One or More Items, When Punctuation is Required

Here are some examples of colons being used correctly, preceding an item or multiple items when the sentence requires punctuation at that point.

I needed just one thing: courage.

(Not “I needed just one thing courage.”)

Bring the following equipment: a torch, warm clothing, and waterproof boots.

(Not “Bring the following equipment a torch, warm clothing, and waterproof boots.”)

However, you should not use a colon if the sentence does not require punctuation.

For instance, the following sentences are correct without a colon:

I needed courage.

(Not “I needed: courage.”)

You should bring a torch, warm clothing, and waterproof boots.

(Not “You should bring: a torch, warm clothing, and waterproof boots.”)

Rule #2: Use a Colon Before Listing Items with Bullet Points

It you’re listing items line by line, you should use a colon to introduce the list – even if that same colon wouldn’t be required for a list in sentence form. Here’s an example:

You should bring:

• A torch
• Warm clothing
• Waterproof boots

Rule #3: Be Consistent With Punctuation of Bullet Points

When using a colon to introduce a list in this way, capitalization and ending punctuation aren’t always necessary.

If each item on the list is a complete sentence, you should always capitalize the first letter and finish with a period (or question mark or exclamation point, if appropriate). In other cases, though, it’s up to you whether or not you want to capitalize and use periods – just be consistent.

You should bring:

• A torch.
• Warm clothing!
• Waterproof boots.

This example is consistent because each item ends with a punctuation mark: either a period or an exclamation point.

Rule #4: Carefully Consider Capitalizing a Complete Sentence After a Colon

Some editors believe that it’s always best to capitalize a complete sentence that comes after a colon, like this:

He asked for help: He got it.

Others believe that you should generally avoid capitalizing in this way, instead preferring:

He asked for help: he got it.

Some would say that you don’t need to capitalize if the clause after the colon bears a close relationship to the clause before the colon, but would capitalize a general or formal statement, such as:

Remember what your mother taught you: If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.

In these cases, it’s best to either consult the style guide for the publication you’re writing for, or to create a consistent style guide for your own work.

There are a couple of cases in which you should always capitalize the sentence after a colon, though.

When it’s a Complete or Full Sentence Quotation

The chair made an announcement: “This meeting will have to be postponed.”

In that example, “This” has to be capitalized because it’s the start of a full sentence quotation.

When the Information After the Colon Requires Two (or More) Sentences

The rules were inflexible: No running in the corridors. No shouting. Always walk on the right.

In this case, it makes sense to capitalize the first “No” because it’s the first of three full sentences.

Rule #5: Use a Colon to Introduce an Extended Quotation

Whether you’re writing an essay, a non-fiction book, or a blog post, there’ll be times when you want to quote someone else at some length (more than a sentence or two). This means using a “block quotation” that goes in its own standalone paragraph. This should normally be preceded by a colon, and should be indented from the left margin – some style guides also indent from the right margin.

 In 26 Feel-Good Words, Michael wrote:

Some writers neglect the power of emotion when communicating their ideas, valuing logic more than others do, and assuming that everyone thinks like they do – that careful reasoning is enough to convince readers and make points. But even the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who was no enemy of reason, taught that stimulating emotion in your audience can be the key to persuading them.

Rule #6: Use a Colon After the Salutation in a Business Letter (Depending on Where You Live)

In American and Australian usage, the salutation (greeting) should be followed by a colon in formal correspondence – this applies whether you’re using someone’s surname or first name:

Dear Mr Richardson:

Informal or personal correspondence uses a comma in place of this colon.

In British English, though, you should use a comma after the salutation – never a colon – for formal business letters as well as for informal letters.

Colons can take a bit of practice, so try using one (or more!) in the next piece that you write. You’ve probably already used them to introduce lists, but how about structuring a sentence that has two independent clauses joined by a colon? Drop us a comment below to share your examples.

Source: https://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-use-a-colon/