[Grammar] If condition

[Shazlin]

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

 

[emsr2d2]

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.

 

[Tdol]

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

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.

 

[tzfujimino]

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