[Grammar] If condition

Hello. My name's Shazlin and I need a little help with this sentence.

With no other choice, I decided to walk the two-kilometre journey home, which would have been fine if I wasn't/weren't so tired.

The question is, which is correct? Wasn't or weren't? An explanation would be nice though. Many thanks!

Shazlin

Since, "I decided" is in the past simple, and being tired happened before the decision was made, I would backshift further to:

... I decided to walk the two kilometres home, which would have been fine if I hadn't been so tired.

(decided = past simple)
(would have been = present perfect)
(hadn't been = past perfect)

It's relevant that you were already tired before you made the decision to walk and, therefore, before you actually walked.

Shazlin said:

The question is, which is correct? Wasn't or weren't? An explanation would be nice though.

Click to expand...

In this context, neither works. However, if you had a second conditional sentence, were is the form traditionally recommended by grammar books, and still preferred in formal English, though many people use was:

It would be fine if I weren't so tired. (Preferred by many and definitely the one to use in formal language)
It would be fine if I wasn't so tired. (Common among native speakers, but some people argue that it's non-standard.)

My advice would be to use were as you'll never go wrong with it,but don't be surprised if you hear people using was.

I'm sure you meant "... if I wasn't ..." in your second example.