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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Which is correct:; I wish I was, or I wish I were...?

How do I know when to use the word was, versus the word were?
  

Top answer

Both are used. I wish I were is more grammatical but I wish I was is very common in informal English. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • Both are used.
  • I wish I were is more grammatical but I wish I was is very common in informal English.
  • CB
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10 Answers
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Both are used. I wish I were is more grammatical but I wish I was is very common in informal English.

CB
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AnonymousHow do I know when to use the word was, versus the word were?

Think of "I wish I were" as a fixed idiom and use it all the time. Don't bother with "I wish I was" even though you'll hear other people say it from time to time.

CJ
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AnonymousIt's awesome when folks present guesses as fact! How American!
It's awesome when folks get their information from cartoons! How Canadian!

CJ
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May I most respectfully and gently make two points:

1. Using cartoons to learn English is fine -- if the material is accurate. (I wish that there were a cartoon explaining all

the uses of the adverb "really"!)
2. I would like to suggest that the cartoon is "wrong" to say "Frank's not here yet, but if he was ...." I believe that the

"correct" word is
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James MUsing cartoons to learn English is fine -- if the material is accurate.
Of course! I expected readers to realize that I was only "responding in kind" by matching the absurdity of the post with some absurdity of my own!
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Anonymous How do I know when to use the word was, versus the word were?
When speaking in the future tense, use plural verb...... Future tense: IF I were a rich man, I would date a lot of women. Past tense: When I was a rich man I dated a lot of women.

I wish I were there with you now. Or, avoid and say: I wish I could be there with you now.
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I think yours is the best explanation, but is there a grammar rule that can explain it? I'm not an english native speaker.
thank you
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My humble analysis of this is that it involves the use of the subjunctive. The use of "were" in this case is because its contrary to fact. I'm not "you" so I'd say "If I were you". That's where the subjunctive "mood" as opposed to the "indicative mood"

I actually didn't learn about the subjunctive until I took Spanish.

All that being said, grammarians "prescribe" language & "lingui

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Which I were there with you
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