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Guest Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Is it right or wrong?
My friend from Canada said "If I was you, I..." but I told her that is wrong. I said in condition we have to use "If I were you,..." She said in Canada or America everybody says If I was you. I don't think it's right because I have studied and I can check in some books. It is "If I were you,I..." She doesn't believe me coz she thinks she is native speaker but I'm not. I don't want the students to study wrong so I would like you to confirm for this sentence. I wonder if I wrong why many book are written "If I were you...not if I was you..." She told me even I teach my students like that but noboday says like I teach, so please tell me how to use exactly. Thank you so much for your answer.
Top answer
" That said, I, a native speaker, am about to tell you that "If I were you" is definitely the correct form. And, yes, it's true, many people use "was" instead of "were". I would not go so far as to say "everybody", however.
- " That said, I, a native speaker, am about to tell you that "If I were you" is definitely the correct form.
- And, yes, it's true, many people use "was" instead of "were".
- I would not go so far as to say "everybody", however.
- Use "were" instead of "was" in this pattern no matter what you hear others say!
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1 Answers
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You probably are not familiar with this piece of advice often quoted in linguistics circles, but "Never trust a native informant!"
That said, I, a native speaker, am about to tell you that "If I were you" is definitely the correct form.
That said, I, a native speaker, am about to tell you that "If I were you" is definitely the correct form.
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