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Dave Phillips Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
If I were you
I know that after if I, we can use was or were. I also know that most people select were as it is considered more formal therefore more correct.
My question is; is there a reason why we can use were in this case, or is it just because we can?
My question is; is there a reason why we can use were in this case, or is it just because we can?
Top answer
It's a remnant of the use of the subjunctive mood in a contrary-to-fact-clause. ]
- It's a remnant of the use of the subjunctive mood in a contrary-to-fact-clause.
- ]
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6 Answers
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It's a remnant of the use of the subjunctive mood in a contrary-to-fact-clause. I believe 'was' sounds uneducated in this case [I don't mean that the user has to know why it's correct - only that it is correct.]
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PhilipI believe 'was' sounds uneducated in this case- was is as equally correct as were according to people like Micheal Swan so I don't believe it has anything to do with education. I know a lot of Americans consider was incorrect but all my grammar books confirm that either are acceptable. However I don't understand why with that conditional. I understa
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American Heritage Book of English Usage:
According to traditionaly rules, you use the subjunctive to describe an occurrence that you have presupposed to be contrary to fact [If I were ten years younger, I would enter a Marathon.].
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When the situation described by the if-clause in not presupposed to be false, however, that clause must contain an indicat
According to traditionaly rules, you use the subjunctive to describe an occurrence that you have presupposed to be contrary to fact [If I were ten years younger, I would enter a Marathon.].
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When the situation described by the if-clause in not presupposed to be false, however, that clause must contain an indicat
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Thanks Philip
I see. My modern BrE books (Murphy & Swann) allow both options but Swan does say that many Americans consider was incorrect. I use were and when my students challange me every time we come to conditionals, I have no answer. I like to be able to say that there is a why but, you don't need to know the why as It will take you more time to understand why than you will spend
I see. My modern BrE books (Murphy & Swann) allow both options but Swan does say that many Americans consider was incorrect. I use were and when my students challange me every time we come to conditionals, I have no answer. I like to be able to say that there is a why but, you don't need to know the why as It will take you more time to understand why than you will spend
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Interesting that Americans consider it incorrect, and (by implication?) the British find it okay?
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Grammar GeekInteresting that Americans consider it incorrect, and (by implication?) the British find it okay?Either are acceptable in the UK. Were is more common although.
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