[262] Wert is sometimes used in lieu of wast; and, in such instances, both by authority and by analogy, it appears to belong here, if anywhere.  See OBS. 2d and 3d, below.

[263] Some grammarians, regardless of the general usage of authors, prefer was to were in the singular number of this tense of the subjunctive mood.  In the following remark, the tense is named “present” and this preference is urged with some critical extravagance:  “Was, though the past tense of the indicative mood, expresses the present of the hypothetical; as, ‘I wish that I was well.’ The use of this hypothetical form of the subjunctive mood, has given rise to a form of expression wholly unwarranted by the rules of grammar.  When the verb was is to be used in the present tense singular, in this form of the subjunctive mood, the ear is often pained with a plural were, as, ’Were I your master’—­’Were he compelled to do it,’ &c.  This has become so common that some of the best grammars of the language furnish authority for the barbarism, and even in the second person supply wert, as a convenient accompaniment.  If such a conjugation is admitted, we may expect to see Shakspeare’s ‘thou beest’ in full use.”—­Chandler’s Gram., Ed. of 1821, p. 55.  In “Chandler’s Common School Grammar,” of 1847, the language of this paragraph is somewhat softened, but the substance is still retained.  See the latter work, p. 80.

[264] “If I were, If thou were.  If he were.”—­Harrison’s Gram., p. 31.  “If, or though, I were loved.  If, or though, thou were, or wert loved.  If, or though, he were loved.”—­Bicknell’s Gram., Part i, p. 69.  “If, though, &c.  I were burned, thou were burned or you were burned, he were burned.”—­Buchanan’s Gram., p. 53.  “Though thou were.  Some say, ’though thou wert.’”—­Mackintosh’s Gram., p. 178.  “If or though I were.  If or though thou were.  If or though he were.”—­St. Quentin’s General Gram., p. 86.  “If I was, Thou wast, or You was or were, He was.  Or thus:  If I were, Thou wert, or you was or were, He were.”—­Webster’s Philosophical Gram., p. 95; Improved Gram., p. 64.  “PRESENT TENSE.  Before, &c.  I be; thou beest, or you be; he, she, or it, be:  We, you or ye, they, be.  PAST TENSE.  Before, &c.  I were; thou wert, or you were; he, she, or it, were; We, you or ye, they, were.”—­WHITE, on the English Verb, p. 52.