0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Use of the word 'if'

How should I word a sentence using 'if'? For example should I write 'If I WAS you I'd be happy with ..... ' or should I be saying 'If I WERE you I'd be happy .......'. If the answer is the second example, how does it work for you, he, she, it, we, they etc?

Also, which of these is correct: 'If I would have done my homework on time I wouldn't have been in trouble with the teacher' or 'If I had done my homework on time I wouldn't have been in trouble with the teacher' or 'If I had have done my homework on time I wouldn't have been in trouble with the teacher'?
  

Top answer

1. were is correct for all persons. It is the subjunctive used in a situation that is contrary to fact.

— Philip

  • 1.
  • were is correct for all persons.
  • It is the subjunctive used in a situation that is contrary to fact.
  • 2.
  • If I had done/I wouldn't have been Your first example is a common error, even among native speakers.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

6 Answers
0
1. were is correct for all persons. It is the subjunctive used in a situation that is contrary to fact.

2. If I had done/I wouldn't have been

Your first example is a common error, even among native speakers.

The last example is just too much verb.

Please read the thread beginning at
0
0
Thanks, I knew I was right about both but have heard 'If I WAS blah blah ...' and 'If I WOULD HAVE blah blah ...' so much and often that I was wondering if I were the one getting it wrong all the time.
0
0
AnonymousThanks, I knew I was right about both but have heard 'If I WAS blah blah ...' and 'If I WOULD HAVE blah blah ...' so much and often that I was wondering if I were the one getting it wrong all the time.

Oddly enough, here "if I was" is correct, because you aren't really setting up a condition that is contrary to fact. The word "wonder" is c
0
0
Oh, that's very interesting and I'm so glad I asked the original question. Thank you for explaining and for putting me right - you are wonder(ful)
0
0
All this is true but in informal spoken English less and less people use the correct form. I'm starting to feel like I'm using old-fashioned English when I say "If I were you..." because it's become so rare.
0
0
I think that "if I were......" is the most common of all, perhaps even a fixed phrase "if I were you". I know how you feel about being old-fashioned.
0

Related Questions