Taurandeth
New Member
... always as sure about grammar as now. Unfortunately I am not but I remember this rule very well, as it is not very often that British English is less formal than American English.
The grammar book for the preparation to the Cambridge Exam states:
"In British English, we can use both was and were after if with the third person singular. Were is more common in a formal style. In American English, it is usual to use were. In both British and American English, were is usually used in the phrase If I were you, ..."
This is probably the most boring answer to Tolkien's mysterious use of was, but it seems to be all there is. (Though the Tolkien professor can undoubtedly come up with several more spectacular theories.
)
The grammar book for the preparation to the Cambridge Exam states:
"In British English, we can use both was and were after if with the third person singular. Were is more common in a formal style. In American English, it is usual to use were. In both British and American English, were is usually used in the phrase If I were you, ..."
This is probably the most boring answer to Tolkien's mysterious use of was, but it seems to be all there is. (Though the Tolkien professor can undoubtedly come up with several more spectacular theories.
)