Help! Was-Were?

Originally posted by thyme
If you'd pronounce it brightish, you'd probably wright it brigthish too, or else why bother, hey?

Originally posted by HandyAndy
Actually, the example given was "You'd wish you were British," which is correct either way. The subjunctive mood makes the was/were distinction only for first and third person singular (I and it).

When it's deliberately used incorrectly as in "When we was Fab" it is normally spelt "wuz".
For example: "we wuz robbed" the Scottish National football team's official chant. 😏

calypso

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich laik du go

wer de wimen
arr so ander
so quait ander
denn anderwo

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich laik du go

als ich anderschdehn
mange lanquidsch
will ich anderschdehn
auch lanquidsch in rioo

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich laik du go

wenn de senden
mi across de meer
wai mi not senden wer
ich wuld laik du go

yes yes de senden
mi across de mer
wer ich was not yet
ich laik du go sehr

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich laik du go

(ernst jandl)

(This thread somehow reminded me of this.)

Edit: YouTube

Poetic license, comes to mind.

Originally posted by thyme
The Beatles were from downtown Liverpool. They didn't know either.

Originally posted by Nordlys
calypso

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich laik du go

wer de wimen
arr so ander
so quait ander
denn anderwo

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich laik du go

als ich anderschdehn
mange lanquidsch
will ich anderschdehn
auch lanquidsch in rioo

ich was not yet
in brasilien
nach brasilien
wuld ich lai ...[text shortened]...
(This thread somehow reminded me of this.)

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Loq_kHK994

Originally posted by Nordlys
It should be "British". 😉

Originally posted by Jigtie
you'd wish you was Brittish.

Originally posted by Jigtie
Complete mastery of two languages is hard, eller is it bara my frail mind som constantly lurar mig?

Originally posted by shavixmir
And considering anybody wishing to be British has obviously lost the plot to some extent, nobody should really care one way or the other.

Originally posted by Jigtie
Complete mastery of two languages is hard, eller is it bara my frail mind som constantly lurar mig?

Originally posted by shavixmir
The use of "Was" is indeed incorrect.

Whether the "You" is singular or plural, it would, in both cases, be "you were British".

However, considering the source, it was probably done deliberately, Bob Dylan redefines past tenses to suit his lyrics as well.

And considering anybody wishing to be British has obviously lost the plot to some extent, nobody should really care one way or the other.

grammar threads are like sooo last year..😞

Originally posted by duecer
grammar threads are like sooo last year..😞