But i cannot rule out the possibility that indian englishâ€and specifically indian political englishâ€has evolved this usage of were to precisely in order to express firmness and caution in the same … If you were can also imply that you had planned to do it. If i were going to go home in an hour, would you come? does not describe an unlikely or impossible scenario.

The usage of something like were you vs. Weren't you for an example: You were going to talk to michael, (were you/weren't you)? In the sentence above, which makes sense grammatically? What is the difference between were and have been, and are these sentences gramatically correct? 1) some of the best known writers of detective fiction in the twentieth century were women.

What is the difference between were and have been, and are these sentences gramatically correct? 1) some of the best known writers of detective fiction in the twentieth century were women.