The use of cell phones would not be as pervasive if it was indeed not remarkable.

Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. This sentence is not clear to me. Are you saying that the use is remarkable or that phones are remarkable? At any rate, in the "if" clause "were" (Subjunctive) would be far better than "was."

no, it should still be "was" because it refers back to "use" not "cell phones" (the object of the preposition)

sentence is kind of confusing

I understand that the sentence you provided is a bit confusing. It seems like you are trying to express the idea that the widespread use of cell phones is remarkable or significant. However, the sentence structure could be improved for better clarity.

To clarify the meaning, you could rephrase the sentence as follows:

"The use of cell phones is pervasive because it is remarkable."

Now, let's break down the sentence construction and explain it further:

1. Subject: "The use of cell phones"
- This refers to the act of using cell phones.

2. Verb: "is"
- The verb "is" indicates the present tense of the verb "to be" and shows the connection between the subject and the complement.

3. Complement: "pervasive" and "remarkable"
- "Pervasive" means that the use of cell phones is widespread or extensive.
- "Remarkable" suggests that the use of cell phones is impressive or noteworthy.

By using the word "pervasive," you are highlighting the extent of cell phone usage. Additionally, by using the word "remarkable," you are emphasizing that the use of cell phones is significant or stands out in some way.

Overall, this revised sentence conveys the idea that the extensive use of cell phones is remarkable or notable.