question

[Lenka]

can we say ?
If I were you, I'd marry her.
or If I was you, I'd marry her.

What is right? why?

Lenka

[Francois]

Strictly speaking one should say 'if I were you', but 'if I was you' is so widespread that it's not frowned upon anymore.

FRC

[MikeNewYork]

can we say ?
If I were you, I'd marry her.
or If I was you, I'd marry her.

What is right? why?

Lenka

Francois might be giving the British English perspective. "If I was you" is still frowned upon in American English, at least by those who can make a difference in one's life. :wink:

[gonghai]

can we say ?
If I were you, I'd marry her.
or If I was you, I'd marry her.

What is right? why?

Lenka

i think if i were you sounds correct
if i was you it sounds awkward

[MikeNewYork]

can we say ?
If I were you, I'd marry her.
or If I was you, I'd marry her.

What is right? why?

Lenka

i think if i were you sounds correct
if i was you it sounds awkward

I agree. :wink:

[Francois]

For the records, I don't like it either!
Many sites are not so sure whether it's flat wrong or usage got the best of it eg. http://www.geowayne.com/master.html?.../ifiwasyou.htm

FRC

[MikeNewYork]

For the records, I don't like it either!
Many sites are not so sure whether it's flat wrong or usage got the best of it eg. http://www.geowayne.com/master.html?.../ifiwasyou.htm

FRC

It's the same old rules versus common usage debate. For now, Ill take the rules on this one. :wink:

[Lenka]

Look here:
http://www.usingenglish.com/articles...nditional.html
just at the end os the site is a small table where is written this:


I were you, I'd marry her.


If I was you, I'd marry her.


How can I understand it?

Lenka

[alan]

I think I would use "were" here since i was taught that "were" should be used for all persons in this particular pattern.

[MikeNewYork]

Look here:
http://www.usingenglish.com/articles...nditional.html
just at the end os the site is a small table where is written this:


I were you, I'd marry her.


If I was you, I'd marry her.


How can I understand it?

Lenka

The subjunctive is a bit strange.

If I were you (subjunctive mood) tells the listener that the speaker knows that the proposal could not be true or is extremely unlikely to be true.

If I was you (indicative mood) tells the listener that the speaker bleieves that the proposal is true or at least very likely to be true.

In this case it is impossible for the speaker to be the listener. That is why the subjunctive is correct.