Because I don't know how to use the English language.

The subjunctive

• This one is pretty simple. When you're writing about a non-true situation — usually following the word if or the verb wish — the verb to be is rendered as were.
  • If I were a rich man.
• If you are using if for other purposes (hypothetical situations, questions), you don't use the subjunctive.
  • The reporter asked him if he was happy.

Also

• shrunk/shrank.
• There is only one piece of punctuation that brings nightmares: the semicolon.