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LouiST Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Indirect speech

I have two examples and it's actually the same, but with two different words:
If I were a boy.
If I was your boyfriend.

And both refer to the present!! not past.
So I don't get when to use 'was' and 'were' in such situations.
I guess it's indirect speech

Thanks
LS
  

Top answer

Hi, Both of your examples are part of conditional sentences. They indicate hypothetical situations. If I were a boy, I would buy me that game.

— Regards

  • Hi, Both of your examples are part of conditional sentences.
  • They indicate hypothetical situations.
  • If I were a boy, I would buy me that game.
  • -- But I'm not a boy (so I am not going to buy it).
  • If I was / were your boyfriend, I would treat you with respect.
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4 Answers
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Hi,
Both of your examples are part of conditional sentences. They indicate hypothetical situations.

If I were a boy, I would buy me that game. -- But I'm not a boy (so I am not going to buy it).

If I was / were your boyfriend, I would treat you with respect. -- But I'm not your boyfriend.

In these sentences, the second conditional is used: if
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In the subjunctive mood the plural form were should be used with a singular subject; as, "If I were,"
not was. Remember the plural form of the personal pronoun you always takes were,
though it may denote but one. Thus, "You were," never "you was."
"If I was him" is a very common expression. Note the two mistakes in it,
that of the verb implying a condition, and that of the objectiv
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louiSTSo I don't get when to use 'was' and 'were' in such situations.I guess it's indirect speech
It's not indirect speech. It's because of the "if".

The grammar of the verb changes when the word "if" starts the clause.

CJ
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