Was is used for statements of fact. Since were is used for statements that do not describe reality, was is just the opposite. Two good clues for the subjunctive mood are the words if and wish. He isn’t rich now; he’s just imagining it, so we need to use the subjective “If I were,” not “If I was.”, The correct answer for the example above, therefore, is, “If I were a better cook, I could entertain more.”. Wellbeing or Well-Being – Which is Correct? I like this way to practice english thank you so much for sharing your video. She were pushing the boat into the water. If you see either of these words, there is a good chance you will need to use the subjunctive. These words are used differently in sentences, so it’s important to know when to use were vs. was. Creator of FilmEnglish.com, a site with hundreds of high quality, free ESL/EFL lesson plans created around short films. Students have to choose between was and were as they listen to the song. Home » Was vs. If I were a rich man, I’d build a big tall house…. I hope this video helps! The verb be is a tricky one because it is an irregular verb and one that we find ourselves using with great frequency, so it is that much more important that we choose the correct verb for our sentences. It is made up of the phrases I were, he were, she were, it were, etc. Patience vs. Another good example of the subjunctive mood can be found in the musical Fiddler on the Roof. In this post, I want to go over the grammar behind was vs. were, when it’s correct to use which one, and give you a few tips to keep track of them both. For example. If I were a rich man, I’d have the time that I lack. All of the above sentences use the verb were because they aren’t true; they do not describe reality. This is a song I found on the internet. If John were a rich man, he could drive a fancy car. Moana fight song (was, were practice) - English ESL video lesson English For example, which of the following two choices is correct? Please consider using another browser. In the song, “If I were a rich man,” the character Tevye sings about how different his life would be and all the things he would do if he were rich. The subjunctive mood is a verb form that is used for unreal or hypothetical statements. A series of scenes from the movie Moana set to the music Fight song sung by Rachel Platten. In the third and fourth sentences, I am talking about situations that would happen if I were taller and if John were rich, speaking hypothetically. Patients: What’s the Difference? Please login or register to write comments! The answer, however, has to do with the subjunctive mood. If I was a better cook, I could entertain more. If I were a rich man, I’d build a big tall house… If I were a rich man, I’d have the time that I lack. And the fifth and sixth sentences are examples of unreal statements. In the first two sentences, I am talking about things I wish would happen. In these lines, Tevye is fantasizing about life as a wealthy man. Thanks a lot!! It's great this video activity. If I were a wealthy man, I wouldn’t have to work hard. They are the perfect complement to the creative and innovative lesson plans on, Film scene (animated or live-action with human-actors), Asking about the visuals ("What can/could you see?"). John spends money as if he were a millionaire. You hear people say both each and every day, so it’s hard to know which is correct. Last night, I was watching TV until midnight. The Video Lesson Player has problems in Internet Explorer. Listening comprehension, fill in the gap, multiple choice questions about the song lyrics or action sequence in the video. Was is used in the first person singular (I) and the third person singular (he, she, it). It is used in the subjunctive mood to indicate unreal or hypothetical statements. https://www.missmollysongs.com Fun and educational sing along songs for children (and their teachers and parents) from Miss Molly Songs! If I were taller, I could dunk a basketball. After reading this post, you shouldn’t have any trouble correctly choosing between was or were in your future writing. Was and were are both past tenses of the verb to be. As I said above, was and were are in the past tense, but they are used differently. The forms that was and were will take in your sentence are summarized in the chart below, Singular = I was, You were, He was, She was, It was. ", Kieran Donaghy, You often use this form when you are being wishful. They are the perfect complement to the creative and innovative lesson plans on Film English. The words if and wish usually indicate the subjunctive mood. It is used for statements of fact. Was is used in the first and third person singular past.