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Bookmark or Share- What is the difference between "were" and "have been"?They are both grammatical, and have a roughly similar meaning. The first is in the simple past tense, and refers to a situation of the past (i.e. definitely before the present moment) and without connection to the present (nothing is implied about what may be true now).
- modal verbs - "Could you...?" vs. "Were you able to...?" - English ...I understand the difference in use between 'could' and 'was/were able to' to refer to a specific achievement. I was able to attend the meeting yesterday. He actually attended the meeting. I could attend the meeting yesterday. He had the possibility to attend, but we don't know whether he did or he didn't.
- I 'was' or I 'were'? - English Language Learners Stack ExchangeI wish I were young. I wish I were a boy. I wish I were a policeman. I wish I were a rich man. All the above sentences suggest you want to be something you are factually not. In other words, you are NOT young, a boy, a policeman, a rich man and you are sorry that you are not young, a boy, a policeman, a rich man. If I were you, I wouldn't say that.
- tense - "If something was" vs "If something were" - English Language ...Use were (instead of was) in statements that are contrary to fact. In your sentences it should definitely be: "What if the Moon were a Disco ball" - It's not true, that's why we use the subjunctive, it's contrary to fact. "If + were" expresses the subjunctive mood, which refers to wishes and desires and is known as a "non-factual" mood.
- meaning - Difference between "where are you from" and "where do you ...It's tempting to take the position that there are absolute interpretations to all utterances. However I'm inclined to see interpretation as a fluid process, where the interpretation of a question asked or answered takes on a rhetorical trajectory whereby the asker and respondent act and react in accordance with their interests at any given point in the interaction.
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