weren't/wasn't

In the old days, before the horseless carriage, "weren't" was the preferred form. Now, it seems either is acceptable and "wasn't" is considered less formal. And MS Word sometimes complains when I use "weren't." I use whichever seems appropriate for the character or situation.

were/was

FloVoyager said:

In the old days, before the horseless carriage, "weren't" was the preferred form. Now, it seems either is acceptable and "wasn't" is considered less formal. And MS Word sometimes complains when I use "weren't." I use whichever seems appropriate for the character or situation.

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I think you mean, in the old days, when people actually knew and used proper grammar.

Subjunctive mood is still the law of the land. It has nothing at all to do with something being formal or informal. Either is NOT acceptable today, anymore than it was a hundred years ago.

There is no "preferred" form. There is the correct form, and teh incorrect form.

If you break subjunctive mood, and have a character use "was" when "were" is the proper word, especially in a case like this, it should only be done if you're trying to show the character is not educated enough to know the difference.

Believe me, editors, agents, and the majority of readers will know the difference. I mean, even Hee Haw got this one right.

Contrary-to-fact scenarios should use the subjunctive mood. Most of the time the verb in English is the same (e.g. "If I had a million dollars..."), but "be" for 1st and 3rd person singular should use "were": "If I were a rich man..." (Fiddler on the Roof ), "If he were smart he would..." and so on.

The subjunctive mood is also indicated in other circumstances:

Suppositions - "Let's assume that I were to be elected mayor."

Highly improbably conditions - "If I be too talkative, please give me a nudge."

Doubt or uncertainty - "As though he were any luckier than we are!"

Necessity - "It is expected that every student pay class fees in a timely manner."

Parliamentary procedures - "I move that the meeting be adjourned."

Desires - "Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

And I'm sure that's more than you ever wanted to know .

I would use the subjunctive mood: "were."

However, it's more and more common to use simple tense when we're not talking about improbable situations:

"She looked at me as if I were a fish" (I will NEVER be a fish, so it should be "were")

"She looked at me as if I was the sexiest man at the club." (I could very well be the sexiest man there)

Club

maestrowork said:

"She looked at me as if I was the sexiest man at the club." (I could very well be the sexiest man there)

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Remind me to avoid THAT club.

Weren't

Unless, you're like, an unlettered lout.

I told you I would NEVER be a fish!