Questions about English Grammars in Harry Potter Movies.

Now I’m obsessed with Harry Potter movies and I’m watching my fav scenes so much over and over again that I almost memorized all the lines in those scenes. But there are a few grammars that I don’t understand why they can be correct in them.

The first is Snape’s line, “I assure you that were you in Slytherin and your fate rested with me, the both of you would be on the train home tonight!”

Why is it “that were you” instead of “that you were”?

And the second is again Snape’s line to Lupin, in the scene where he found Harry wandering the corridors at night, and Lupin showed up after Harry read the insults to Snape that appeared on a map: “Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?”

why is it “are we” not “are you”?

Sorry for my bad explanation and English tho😅

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ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

Because "that were you" means "if you were" or "if you had been" in American.

"Are we" is just a matter of traditional usage; I don't think there is any technical reason.

Arukas3 · 18-21, F

@ChipmunkErnie thanks! But do you mean it’s British English and we don’t use “that were you” in American English?

ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M

@Arukas3 Both use it, but I think it's more an an older usage that you don't see as often these days. But I'm American, though I do read and watch a lot of British material, so a Brit might have a different POV.