The use of subjunctive

[dgsherryforever]

Would you please tell me which sentences below is correct and why?

1. If the participant were finished answering the questions, the data are complete.

2. If the participant is finished answering the questions, the data are complete.

Thanks a lot.

[boert]

What do you think which one is right?

[dgsherryforever]

I think maybe the second one.

[Delfino]

Would you please tell me which one of the sentences below is correct and why?

1. If the participant were finished answering the questions, the data are complete.

2. If the participant is finished answering the questions, the data are complete.


The second one is correct.

the participant => he / she (3rd person singular) is finished
the participants => they (3rd person plural) are finished


English grammar
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/inhalt_grammar.htm
http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/inhalt_grammar.htm


I think, the following sentence is correct too.

Everyone would be more happy about the result of the entrance test,
if the participants were (already) finished answering the questions, when the time was up.

[Delfino]

Can you please elaborate on this?


Denn das Wort were/is ist der einzige Unterschied zwischen den beiden Sätzen!

Die Frage klingt übrigens so als ob (nur) einer der beide Sätze richtig ist.

Wenn (entsprechend deinem Kommentar) noch ein Fehler in dem Satz ist
kann eigentlich kein Satz die gesuchte Lösung sein, oder?

Gibt es eine Regel wann man diese Formulierung verwendet?

the data is complete / the data are complete


Bitte korrigiere die Fehler im 1. und 2. Satz sowie in meinem Beitrag...

Vielen Dank.
Delfino