Was/Were

I know this will seem like an amazingly stupid question...

"Billions. There were one for every person."

"Billions. There was one for every person."

My understanding of basic grammar says that the latter is right, but then again... Maybe I just think I've heard the former used.

 

With that very obvious 'one' in the predicate, only 'was' seems natural. The plural 'billions' in the previous sentence is really irrelevant, except for a vague notional connection.

 

Right, thanks Got out of bed too early.

 

the only way 'were' would be correct would be in this case:

"Billions. If there were one for every person,..."

 

Ouch. Now you confused me. How's this?
Now I feel like a 1st grader

 

Subjunctive

 

'Billions. If there was one for every person.'

Would that also be correct?

 

Similar to the case of "As it were" ?

I'm sorry, I don't know what a subjunctive is.

 

Subjunctive is a keyword you can look up for more understanding.

 

Help to self-help, I see.

So be it.

Thank you.

 

The Internet helps those who help themselves.

 

Well, actually I'm still confused. I read a tutorial on subjunctives that explains it as using the simple form of a verb, to suggest urgency.

How that changes "was" to "were" by adding "if" is beyond my comprehension.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the relationship between "was" and "were" (aside from singular / plural usage) is that were implies a strict hypothetical while was doesn't.

"If I were in love with Marylin Monroe. . ." There's little possibility (according to the statement) that I'm in love with Marylin Monroe.
"If I was in love with Marylin Monroe. . ." This, on the other hand, implies that I may or may not be in love with Marylin Monroe.

(Now, I've read in some places that claim it's actually grammatically incorrect to use was in a hypothetical, but I'm not sure what the exact rules are.)

 

I found a better article on it now that also explained subjunctives in this kind of use.

Ghosts in Latin: You're right, it's what the article told me too.
Typical examples given were:

•if
•as if
•wish
•suppose

As for the last part, it says that "was" can also be used in a hypothetical meaning, only it's less formal than "were". All except one case -- you would not say "If I was you..."

 

OK, I'm riding around in this car with this woman that I'm close to a couple times a week. I'm noticing she's looking out of the window and noticing OTHER WOMEN: how this one looks, "Isn't her hair lovely?", "What a nice outfit!"

I said, "Babe, what is the DEAL?! You're noticing all these other chicks... maybe... you're a lesbian."

She looks at me and she says, "I wish I was a lesbian!"

Now, at that point, I wanted to say, "You mean 'you wish you WERE a lesbian' because, grammatically..." But I let it slide; I didn't wanna ruffle any feathers.

But, y'know, that sentence, that retort, "I wish I was a lesbian"...kinda stuck in the ol' "Laud-lo"'s mind...kinda gestated there for...seven, eight minutes...AND THIS TUNE POPPED OUT!