Kazumi
Professional Teacher
教えてください。 I have a question about a contraction. “But if they’re be still here…..”. Which one “ they are” or “ they were “in this sentence?
Mar 5, 2023 2:23 AM
Answers · 7
1
'But if they're be still here' is incorrect. It is perhaps a typo. 'They're' can only be 'they are'. 'They are be' does not exist. ('They were be' does not exist either.)
March 5, 2023
1
"They're" is a contraction of "they" and "are." There is no contraction for "there" and "were." Also: Your example isn't a sentence, but rather a dependent clause. And you shouldn't ever use "be" after either "are" or "were."
March 5, 2023
1
You can say these things: If they are still here... If they will be still here... If they were still here...
March 5, 2023
Thanks a lot.
March 5, 2023
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!