If I were a boy..

[jang gang]

Hi, I have a question
this sentence -> If I were a boy
why 'were'?
why don't use 'was'?
"If i was a boy" is wrong sentence?
I want to know reason bye!

[masterding]

Not a teacher,Nor a native
Because it is subjunctive.

[AlexAD]

Hi, I have a question
this sentence -> If I were a boy
why 'were'?
why don't use 'was'?
"If i was a boy" is wrong sentence?
I want to know reason bye!

Not a teacher, nor a native.
Both was and were can be used. Though the latter is used more often.

[English Freak]

Hi, I have a question
this sentence -> If I were a boy
why 'were'?
why don't use 'was'?
"If i was a boy" is wrong sentence?
I want to know reason bye!

In conditional sentences, we use "were" for all persons.
If she were here, we would start.
If I were you, I wouldn't do it.

[waflob]

It uses conditional 2, as the condition is impossible or unlikely.

[TheParser]

Hi, I have a question
this sentence -> If I were a boy
why 'were'?
why don't use 'was'?
"If i was a boy" is wrong sentence?
I want to know reason bye!

NOT A TEACHER


(1) As the other posters have told you, there is something called the subjunctive.

We use the subjunctive when we are talking about something that is not true.

(a) Of course, I am not the president. But if I were the president, I would make

a lot of changes.

(2) "If I were a boy" = I am NOT a boy. (Of course, only a girl would say this

sentence!)

(3) Some native speakers say "If I WAS a boy" or "If I WAS the president."

I have read that here in the United States, most native speakers still use the

subjunctive ("were") because they hear it so often on TV, etc. I hear that in

some other English-speaking countries, many people do not use the subjunctive

so often as do Americans.

(4) If I WERE you (I am NOT you), I would continue to ask questions here.

As you can see, many people are eager to help you.


Good luck.

[5jj]

In conditional sentences, we use "were" for all persons.
If she were here, we would start..

Many speakers of BrE do not use 'were' in all persons. Although purists are not happy about this, 'was' is acceptable for the first and third persons singular in all but formal speech and writing - even there, some people use 'was'.

'Were' is still commonly used in 'if I were you', which can almost be regarded as a fixed expression.