Need assistance.
Why do we say "If I were you, I would have...
Why don't we say "If I was you, I would have...
Please explain this rule. Your help is very much appreciated.:up:
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Need assistance.
Why do we say "If I were you, I would have...
Why don't we say "If I was you, I would have...
Please explain this rule. Your help is very much appreciated.:up:
2010,
The "were" in "If I were you" is hypothetical, that is, untrue. It means that the speaker is talking about another, potential universe - one that exists only in his mind. It's imaginary. A lot of native speakers say "If I was you...", when they're not speaking carefully.
You asked a good question. You see things.
Thank you Gabber!Quote:
Originally Posted by gabber
Please tell me if the usage of this sentence is grammatically correct!
'If I were' is always correct and is preferred in formal usage. Many native speakers do use 'If I was', but it is still regarded as an error by some, so it is better to play safe and use 'If I were'.
Thank you Tdol!Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol
What I understand is that there isn't a rule for this and it has been followed by everyone and therefore it sounds correct!
What is important here is that the expression is well understood in the English-speaking community. As gabber explained, it is about a hypothetical situation. If I say (for example) "I wouldn't do that if I were you" it is understood as a warning. (Perhaps the person is about to pet a strange dog.)Quote:
Originally Posted by 2010
:-)
This is called the subjunctive.
You can read more about it in many places, including here: Subjunctive Mood
There certainly are rules -- even rules that native speakers don't understand very well!
Your example is a conditional sentence having two clauses; (1) The if clause (If I were you)and The main clause (I would have…). The clause introduced by “if” may contain either a past subjunctive verb (if I were going) or an indicative verb (if I was going), depending on the intended meaning. Here you have a past subjunctive.Quote:
Originally Posted by 2010
According to the traditional rule, the subjunctive should be used to describe an occurrence that is presupposed to be contrary to fact, as in:
If I were ten years younger, I would have definitely fallen in love with this beautiful lady.
If I were you, I would have given up smoking
The verb of the main clause in such a sentence must then contain the modal verb would or (less frequently) should. You have no choice over the main verb.
If you say: If I were you, I could have given up smoking. It is wrong.
What about pronouns such as "if it were", "If she were", and "if he were"? Does the same rule apply?Quote:
Originally Posted by sarat_106
How about "wish it were..."?
Yes, the subjunctive "were" applies to third-person singular as well as first-person singular. (You can't hear it in second person singular or the plural forms, because it's the same word either way.)