Unit 6
Chapter 5
The Subjunctive (p. 449)
If John were here, he could help us.
was
I wish I was in Polynesia.
were
Present-unreal conditional sentences and "wish + complement" sentences use the subjunctive form "were" for all three persons, singular and plural. But this usage is rapidly changing. Now even educated people use "was" instead of "were".
I. Exchanges
A: What would you do if you were a millionaire?
B: I'd buy a Rolls Royce.
A: I wish I was in Cheju-do.
B; Boy, that would be nice.
A: He wishes he were president.
B: Oh really? Why?
A: He likes power.
II. Song
I wish I were an apple.
Hanging on a tree.
And everytime sweetheart passed.
She'd take a bite of me.
"Cindy, Cindy"
- American Folk Song
III. Writing
| Make short negative responses, using "I wish he | __________" |
| wasn't wouldn't didn't couldn't |
- Mr. Kim lives far away.
- This student chews gum in class.
- My neighbor plays violin.
- He has a noisy dog.
- Korean is difficult.
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