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If the user was to store data....

(or)

If the user were to store data....

we normally use If I were, If they were but this usage confuses me. I've tried searching in search engines but haven't found any answer!

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  • english.stackexchange.com/questions/660/…
    – Mike
    Commented Apr 1, 2015 at 9:41
  • I am aware of that usage as I had mentioned. My question is with 'user'-a common noun not the pronoun 'I'!
    – Mass Kent
    Commented Apr 1, 2015 at 9:45
  • The earlier thread failed to point out that the writer may also use an inversion to express a conditional in this case.
    – bobro
    Commented Apr 1, 2015 at 9:51
  • It's not about a noun or a pronoun. It's about using a subjunctive mood.
    – Mike
    Commented Apr 1, 2015 at 9:53
  • From the resource you had provided,I might have been able to generalize that 'were' must be used with singular subjects but wouldn't have been sure with it's usage with 'user' until someone like bobro had affirmed it.
    – Mass Kent
    Commented Apr 1, 2015 at 10:00

1 Answer 1

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"Were" is correct, as the verb "to be" is here in the subjunctive mood. If this sounds clumsy to you, you could use inversion to express a conditional:

Should the user store data...

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  • Got the answer.TY
    – Mass Kent
    Commented Apr 1, 2015 at 9:43

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