If I were her ...

  • Thread starter LeeC
  • Start date
  • Views : 56,416
Status
Not open for further replies.
L

LeeC

Guest
When correct grammar sounds incorrect

"If I were she, I'd sign up for that class."

This is correct grammar, but it sounds so odd to my ear because I never hear anyone saying it this way. Is it becoming accepted as correct the same way as the "was/were" issue? "If I was a member, I'd..."
 
Last edited:

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

It is correct, but very few would say it. It's not becoming more accepted; it's disappearing as a form. It used to be much more common. ;-)
 

silversea

Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2005
Member Type
English Teacher
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

tdol said:
It is correct, but very few would say it. It's not becoming more accepted; it's disappearing as a form. It used to be much more common. ;-)
So you mean that now it is less common to say that if I were in your shoes? :roll: We should say If I was in your shoes instead?
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

No; I was referring to the pronoun:
If I were she (uncommon)
If I were her (more common)
;-)
 
Last edited:

Steven D

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Member Type
English Teacher
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

tdol said:
No; I was referring to the pronoun:
I were she (uncommon)
If I were her (more common)
;-)


Saying something like, "if I were she" it just totally irksome. :roll:

Find out which exams require it. Use it for exams if it's required. Humor them. Then forget it. :cool:

I don't think it ever was common in the first place. :-|

:-D
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

It was probably mostly confined to educated speakers in British English, so it wasn't ever tha common, and it has largely be abadoned by them. I can think of no circumstances in which I would use the stucture. In the most formal writing imaginable, I would still not use it. ;-)
 
L

LeeC

Guest
tdol, thank you so much for replying to my question. It sounds like you wouldn't expect an ESL instructor to teach the "If I were she" form in a class, is that true?
 

Steven D

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Member Type
English Teacher
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

tdol said:
It was probably mostly confined to educated speakers in British English, so it wasn't ever tha common, and it has largely be abadoned by them. I can think of no circumstances in which I would use the stucture. In the most formal writing imaginable, I would still not use it. ;-)

Here's some popcorn for ya.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

:cheers:
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

If I were ya, I wouldn't have got so much. ;-)
 

Steven D

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2004
Member Type
English Teacher
Re: When correct grammar sounds incorrect

tdol said:
If I were ya, I wouldn't have got so much. ;-)


You wouldn't have got so much, but I wouldn't have gotten so much.

:)
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
93.62% agree with us. :roll:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top