Talk:Open Wounds/Dialogues/@comment-27200500-20160309095612/@comment-24965192-20160309142148

The verb "were" here isn't used in past tense, but in a subjunctive mood. A subjunctive mood states that it is an inflection of a hypothetical state. In other words, you're putting yourself in their shoes. Contrary to the phrase "If I were a criminal", "I" is not you, but them. As "them" as a random subject is usually used with a plural verb, hence why it is "If I were a criminal". Likewise to "If I were you, I wouldn't eat that" or "I wouldn't eat that if I were you.'