Which is correct grammatically correct if I was or if I were?
Many people use if I was and if I were interchangeably to describe a hypothetical situation. The confusion occurs because when writing in the past tense, I was is correct while I were is incorrect. However, when writing about non-realistic or hypothetical situations, if I were is the only correct choice.
Why do we say if I were?
Why do you use IF I WERE and not IF I WAS? The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the SUBJUNCTIVE mood which is used for hypothetical situations. This is a condition which is contrary to fact or reality (the fact is, I am NOT you).
Was or were in if clause?
If the verb in the if clause is “to be,” use “were,” even if the subject of the clause is a third person singular subject (i.e., he, she, it). See the examples below for an illustration of this exception: If I was a rich man, I would make more charitable donations.
Where do we use were?
Whereas was is the singular past tense of to be, were is used for both the third person plural past tense (they and we) and the second person past tense (you). In the past indicative, were acts similar to was. “They were at the store,” you could say, for example.
What is considered second person?
The second-person point of view belongs to the person (or people) being addressed. This is the “you” perspective. Once again, the biggest indicator of the second person is the use of second-person pronouns: you, your, yours, yourself, yourselves. You can wait in here and make yourself at home.
Is it correct to say I wish I were there?
Most modern, descriptive grammar books accept both “were” and “was” as being grammatically acceptable, but they suggest that “I wish I were” is more appropriate in formal contexts. Both are grammatically correct because in modern English, the only thing needed to express a counterfactual situation is a past tense verb.
Is if I were a boy grammatically correct?
You should always use the subjunctive after if to suggest a hypothetical situation e.g. if I were lucky, if it were to rain, if I were a boy, if I were you. But in casual, informal, spoken language, many people use the present tense e.g. if I was lucky, if it was to rain, if I was a boy, if I was you.
Which sentences is Type 2 if clause?
In type 2 conditional sentences, the time is now or any time and the situation is hypothetical….Examples
- We might buy a larger house if we had more money.
- He could go to the concert if you gave him your ticket.
- If he called me, I couldn’t hear.
What is difference between were and where?
Were is the past tense of be when used as a verb. Where means in a specific place when used as an adverb or conjunction. A good way to remember the difference is that where has an “h” for “home”, and home is a place. Were is one of the past tense forms of the verb be.
Were or grammar check?
Was is used in the first person singular (I) and the third person singular (he, she, it). Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they). I was driving to the park. You were drinking some water.
Is If I was your boyfriend correct?
The correct lyrics should in fact be “if I were your boyfriend”. ‘ He points out it is a ‘common mistake’ to make – but clearly doesn’t want to let the matter lie. ‘You may reply to this by stating that such grammar inaccuracies are not of any importance,’ the letter reads.
When to use was or were in a sentence?
Generally, “was is used for singular objects and “were” is used for plural objects. So, you will use “was” with I, he, she and it while you will use “were” with you, we and they.
Is there were correct grammar?
We use there is for a singular object in the present tense and there are for plural objects in the present. There was is used when you refer to one thing or person. There were is used when you refer to more than one thing or person.
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Now, let’s check out each one in detail so you can see how these grammar checkers were rated.
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Were to in if clause?
‘Were to’ is used in the present to place emphasis on the improbability of the condition. It shows that something is highly unlikely or unthinkable. This form is used in the ‘if-clause’. If he were to be my boss, I think I would quit the next day.
Were or was with if?
Which is correct if I Were they or they were they?
At school or in grammar books you are normally taught the following rule: I / he / she / it – WAS We / you / they – WERE This is correct when we are talking about the PAST TENSE.
Which is the correct sentence if I was there?
The correct sentence should be – if I had been there – because this is a hypothetical situation. If I was present, I would take care of the situation. – X (wrong) The situation was not taken care of, so clearly the statement is not true. Hence, we should use ‘were’ and not ‘was’.
When to use if I was and if I were?
Use ‘if I was’ for real situations that are in indicative mood. If I were. Used in a subjunctive mood, ‘if I were’ indicates an unreal situation. Something that can never happen. You are imagining a situation, that isn’t true yet or cannot be true. If I were Bill Gates, I would be the richest person in the world.
Can you say if I Was you in informal English?
In informal English, you will hear some people say If I was… If he was… etc. Again, this usage doesn’t sound good though unfortunately it is common, especially on the internet (and social media sites). Can IF I WAS ever be correct? Yes, though the sentence is not in the Subjunctive mood but the Indicative instead.