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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Help with conditional

When do you user 'were' instead of 'was'?

I know you say 'If I were you..'

but I also saw this sentence somewhere in a grammar book 'If I was the President, I'd..'

Quite confusing to me, I mean isn't the second sentenced also conditional? what is the general rule? Or are there many exceptions to the rule also?
  

Top answer

Although was is very common in these cases, it should be were , regardless of the number of the subject. I'm sure that very few people from the US who have studied a Romance Language make this error. It is a remnant of the subjunctive mood in older English, used in instances of "contrary to fact".

— Philip

  • Although was is very common in these cases, it should be were , regardless of the number of the subject.
  • I'm sure that very few people from the US who have studied a Romance Language make this error.
  • It is a remnant of the subjunctive mood in older English, used in instances of "contrary to fact".
  • ] However, if the if means "since" or "because", no subjunctive is necessary.
  • ]
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2 Answers
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Although was is very common in these cases, it should be were, regardless of the number of the subject. I'm sure that very few people from the US who have studied a Romance Language make this error. It is a remnant of the subjunctive mood in older English, used in instances of "contrary to fact".

[If he were here, you wouldn't be so grumpy.]

However, if the i
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AnonymousWhen do you user 'were' instead of 'was'?
In certain conditional structures you have two clauses: an if clause and a main clause with would. In that kind of structure use were in the if clause, but keep in mind that a lot of people use was instead.

CJ
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