was were where what?

meez · #1 23-Aug-2006, 09:13

I've just had a discussion with an American and and a British about the usage of was/were in conditionals (if I were/was you...) .

"were" is definitely more formal but how colloquial/informal is "was"? It seems that there is a difference in AE and in BE.
Apparently, in BE it can be used, to a certain extent, even in formal language whereas in AE only "were" seems to be accurate.

I suppose there are even regional differences. However, what's your opinion?

Mister Micawber · #2 23-Aug-2006, 12:16

.
I agree with your respondents.
.

meez · #3 23-Aug-2006, 12:29

dihen · #4 23-Aug-2006, 13:15

But no native speakers would accept "if I am you", would they?

meez · #5 23-Aug-2006, 13:57

No, because it's grammatically incorrect...

**Ouisch** · #6 23-Aug-2006, 22:09

I agree; If I were (not was) you is used both formally and colloquially in AE.

riverkid · #7 24-Aug-2006, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by meez

I've just had a discussion with an American and and a British about the usage of was/were in conditionals (if I were/was you...) .

"were" is definitely more formal but how colloquial/informal is "was"? It seems that there is a difference in AE and in BE.
Apparently, in BE it can be used, to a certain extent, even in formal language whereas in AE only "were" seems to be accurate.

I suppose there are even regional differences. However, what's your opinion?

Both are grammatical and both are in common usage in all dialects of English, Meez.

Results 1 - 10 of about 25,100,000 English pages for "if I was".

Results 1 - 10 of about 37,800,000 English pages for "if I were".

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CGEL - page 86

Preterite was, ... is very widely used instead of irrealis were in these constructions, especially in informal style.: He talks to me as if I was a child; I wish I was going with you.

Was has been in competition with were for 300-400 years, and in general the usage manuals regard it as acceptable, though less formal than were.
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riverkid · #8 24-Aug-2006, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by dihen

But no native speakers would accept "if I am you", would they?

Of course, 'if I am you" is not the normal collocation. We generally use "if I were/was you, ...".

But "If I am you" is sometimes used in English for special effect.

Results 1 - 10 of about 159,000 English pages for "if I'm you".

dihen · #9 24-Aug-2006, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by riverkid

Of course, 'if I am you" is not the normal collocation. We generally use "if I were/was you, ...".
But "If I am you" is sometimes used in English for special effect.
Results 1 - 10 of about 159,000 English pages for "if I'm you".

So would a native speaker sometimes say "I wish I'm [someone]"?