if I were you

[MikeNewYork]

are you ppl dragging this on just for fun?.you would probably be talking in person when you say i would listen to me or you, if i were you.so, there is no need for pronouns when the conversation is about the both of you.Why not solve the problem by leaving the pronouns out.wouldn't it be easier to say i would listen, if i were you.well, if there's a third party involved you can say. i would listen to him if i were you and if it's a thing you can use "the "for example. i would fasten the seat-belt if i were you.

Yes, you've said that. It is a reasonable approach, but not the most common, IMO. :wink:

what do you mean by not the most common?then, what do americans usually say?

In this example, both the "your" and "my" forms are more common than the "the" form, in my experience.

 

[james_chew_84]

In this example, both the "your" and "my" forms are more common than the "the" form, in my experience.[/quote]

I guess we are worlds apart. In malaysia we seldom use your or my.but i agree with i would listen to me, if i were you.i would listen to me(me shows that it's subjunctive). if it weren't for the subjunctive it would probably be i would listen to myself.

 

[navi tasan]

You do have a point James. But how about:
"I'd take my car if I were you, not his."

 

[james_chew_84]

You do have a point James. But how about:
"I'd take my car if I were you, not his."

read my reply again. you might understand better. his/her is used when it involves a third person and not things and as for things it's better to use "the" to be on the safest side.

 

[james_chew_84]

You do have a point James. But how about:
"I'd take my car if I were you, not his."

read my reply again. you might understand better. his/her is used when it involves a third person and not things and as for things it's better to use "the" to be on the safest side.

my and your are not needed to show possession here.the person you're talking to would probably know who owns whatever you're talking about.

 

[navi tasan]

I am not sure I get your point.
In my sentence "his" stands for "his car". I could write it:
"If I were you, I'd take my car and not his car."
"If I were you, I'd accept my offer and not his offer."
I don't see how one can use "the" here.

 

[james_chew_84]

I am not sure I get your point.
In my sentence "his" stands for "his car". I could write it:
"If I were you, I'd take my car and not his car."
"If I were you, I'd accept my offer and not his offer."
I don't see how one can use "the" here.

i don't know what you're talking either. what i know is the person you're talking to probably knows whose car it is of.So, using my his your or whatever is no needed to show possession.Don't you agree with me Mike?

 

[james_chew_84]

no=not
is there any way i can correct my spelling errors without posting any messages?

 

[MikeNewYork]

In this example, both the "your" and "my" forms are more common than the "the" form, in my experience.

I guess we are worlds apart. In malaysia we seldom use your or my.but i agree with i would listen to me, if i were you.i would listen to me(me shows that it's subjunctive). if it weren't for the subjunctive it would probably be i would listen to myself.[/quote]

It is a minor point of English. It is not enough to divide us. :wink:

 

[MikeNewYork]

I am not sure I get your point.
In my sentence "his" stands for "his car". I could write it:
"If I were you, I'd take my car and not his car."
"If I were you, I'd accept my offer and not his offer."
I don't see how one can use "the" here.

i don't know what you're talking either. what i know is the person you're talking to probably knows whose car it is of.So, using my his your or whatever is no needed to show possession.Don't you agree with me Mike?

In this case, I don't agree. There is a difference between his car and my car. :wink:

 

[james_chew_84]

I am not sure I get your point.
In my sentence "his" stands for "his car". I could write it:
"If I were you, I'd take my car and not his car."
"If I were you, I'd accept my offer and not his offer."
I don't see how one can use "the" here.

i don't know what you're talking either. what i know is the person you're talking to probably knows whose car it is of.So, using my his your or whatever is no needed to show possession.Don't you agree with me Mike?

In this case, I don't agree. There is a difference between his car and my car. :wink:

sorry for saying his. it was my mistake to type it in.let's say. we're both having a conversation and it doesnt involve any third person. my and your, you me or whatever is not needed because we already have an undestanding of whom the car belongs to.and if it involve a third person than say if i were you, i would take his car.

 

[MikeNewYork]

sorry for saying his. it was my mistake to type it in.let's say. we're both having a conversation and it doesnt involve any third person. my and your, you me or whatever is not needed because we already have an undestanding of whom the car belongs to.and if it involve a third person than say if i were you, i would take his car.

OK, but suppose each of us has a car and we are discussing your taking one of the cars on a long trip.

If I said "If I were you, I'd take xxx car", we couldn't use "the" in that context. If we use "my" or "your" it could be confusing. Which car is mine, if I am you?

I think we could work it out, but the point is that the pronouns can cause some confusion. :wink:

 

[james_chew_84]

sorry for saying his. it was my mistake to type it in.let's say. we're both having a conversation and it doesnt involve any third person. my and your, you me or whatever is not needed because we already have an undestanding of whom the car belongs to.and if it involve a third person than say if i were you, i would take his car.

OK, but suppose each of us has a car and we are discussing your taking one of the cars on a long trip.

If I said "If I were you, I'd take xxx car", we couldn't use "the" in that context. If we use "my" or "your" it could be confusing. Which car is mine, if I am you?

I think we could work it out, but the point is that the pronouns can cause some confusion. :wink:

I think there isn't any confusion here.If we are planning to take my car, i would say if i were you, i would take my car.if we are planning to take his car. i would say if i were you i would take your car.Let's just put this to a stop. i wouldn't want to confuse myself.

 

[MikeNewYork]

sorry for saying his. it was my mistake to type it in.let's say. we're both having a conversation and it doesnt involve any third person. my and your, you me or whatever is not needed because we already have an undestanding of whom the car belongs to.and if it involve a third person than say if i were you, i would take his car.

OK, but suppose each of us has a car and we are discussing your taking one of the cars on a long trip.

If I said "If I were you, I'd take xxx car", we couldn't use "the" in that context. If we use "my" or "your" it could be confusing. Which car is mine, if I am you?

I think we could work it out, but the point is that the pronouns can cause some confusion. :wink:

I think there isn't any confusion here.If we are planning to take my car, i would say if i were you, i would take my car.if we are planning to take his car. i would say if i were you i would take your car.Let's just put this to a stop. i wouldn't want to confuse myself.

:wink: