If

Question

Why the correct form is "If I were you\if I were it" and not "was"? Doesn't the verb "to be" refer here to I\it?  Or as a result of substituting "you", it must become plural? What about it? Thanks

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Maverick

'Were' in 'If I were you' is the past subjunctive form of the verb 'to be'.

It's 'were' in all persons.

You use it for improbable or unreal situations:

1. 'If I were you, I'd have a beer.' (Unreal - 'I' can never be 'you'.)

2. 'If David Beckham were to make a bit more effort, he wouldn't keep missing penalties.' (Improbable - Beckham will never make a bit more effort.)

But it's not compulsory. Many native speakers use the ordinary past forms of 'to be' in such cases.

MrP

Just the truth · Answer

Why the correct form is "If I were you\if I were it" and not "was"? Doesn't the verb "to be" refer here to I\it?
Or as a result of substituting "you", it must become plural? What about it?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Mr P has explained its use well, M88, but I must emphasize that is not "the correct form" and the incorrect. Both are equally correct, both are fully grammatical, the only difference is one of register and formality. Older forms of English had more subjunctive forms but these have largely been replaced in modern English.
.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello MM88

Why the correct form is "If I were you\if I were it" and not "was"? Doesn't the verb "to be" refer here to I\it?
Or as a result of substituting "you", it must become plural? What about it?

As MrP and JTT already gave good answers I have not much to add.
I'd just like to show you how the verb "be" varies depending on the person, the tense, and the mood.

<indicative mood> used to state facts
PRESENT TENSE I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are, you are, they are
PAST TENSE I was, you were, he/she/it was, we were, you were, they were
<subjunctive mood> used to state what you are wishing or imagining.
PRESENT TENSE I be, you be, he/she/it be, we be, you be, they be
PAST TENSE I were, you were, he/she/it were, we were, you were, they were

paco

Just the truth · Answer

Don't get caught up in the grammatical terminology, Paco. Terminology and prescriptive grammar rules do not describe how language works. The indicative is also " used to state what you are wishing or imagining".

If I was in London, I would/probably would/may/ might ..."

If I was him, I'd take the job."

Googled:

If I was - 3.4 million hits

versus

If I were - 4.43 million hits

Maverick88 · Answer

That's the point - in subjubctive mood I is accompanied by WERE and not WAS. It was counfusing me. Now it's more clear. thanks to all of you gyus.

Eagle2l84 · Answer

Hi JTT,

Googled:

If I was - 3.4 million hits

versus

If I were - 4.43 million hits

argumenting with "Google stats" is a questionable tactic. All over the world people with EFL create web sites in English. Therefore Google stats are tainted with incorrect use of the English language. Also it's tainted with different national idioms, adhering to different sets of rules. And last but not least, even though the web is in writing, it actually represents quite often spoken English, therefore your stats are tainted with intermixing phrases that are adequate for speech but you should never use in writing.

My understanding of "If I was/were" is best represented by [url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv6.shtml"]BBC World Service - Learning English[/url]:

Q: When can I use ‘If I was…’?

A: If I was… is a colloquial alternative to If I were….

In speech, many English people say If I was…, but If I were… is held to be grammatically correct. It is better, therefore, to stick to If I were…, as in these two examples:

* ‘If I were you, I’d fill the tank now so that we don’t run out of petrol.’

* ‘If I were to call in on my way home from work, would that be all right?’

So, in my opinion, using "If I was" actually has a touch of uneducated, lower class english, and is to be avoided, especially in written English.

cu

MrPedantic · Answer

Just to complicate matters, there are also uses of 'if I was' where 'if I were' would be a mistake:

'If I was drunk, it would at least explain why I woke up on Alicia's floor this morning with no memory of the preceding 12 hours.'

'If I was rude to you earlier, I'm very sorry. Prescriptive grammar brings out the beast in me sometimes...'

'If I was the grammarian in question, then the MIT hit-squad will be knocking on my door in approximately – Why, officer! how can I help you?'

(All examples taken from a random google.)

MrP

CalifJim · Answer

Whatever Google contains, "If I was in London, I may ..." sounds yucky to me!

(This statement is clearly descriptive, not prescriptive!)

Just the truth · Answer

argumenting with "Google stats" is a questionable tactic. All over the world people with EFL create web sites in English. Therefore Google stats are tainted with incorrect use of the English language. Also it's tainted with different national idioms, adhering to different sets of rules. And last but not least, even though the web is in writing, it actually represents quite often spoken English, therefore your stats are tainted with intermixing phrases that are adequate for speech but you should never use in writing.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

JTT: I didn't offer it up as a scientific finality, Eagle. I use an English only search. The point is that it is extremely common and it is in use by all speakers of English. The prescription against it is in error. It is often aided by nonsense such as this,

>>>>>>>>>>>
In speech, many English people say If I was…, but If I were… is held to be grammatically correct. It is better, therefore, to stick to If I were…, as in these two examples:
<<<<<<<<<<<

therefore your stats are tainted with intermixing phrases that are adequate for speech but you should never use in writing.

It's the prescriptions that taint and mislead. Students are taught it ungrammatical because of a few folks who haven't studied language. Check the real sources and you get the whole picture, the real picture.

MrPedantic · Answer

For hardcore 'if I was/were' buffs, If 2 is now showing at a thread near you:

Take some popcorn.

If

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