[Grammar] If I were

[Vishwanath Wali]

Why do we use ' If I were ' instead of ' If I was '

 

[White Hat]

In unreal conditionals: If I were you I would do it right now.
In wish structures: I wish I were English.

 

[TheParser]

Why do we use ' If I were ' instead of ' If I was '

REMINDER: NOT A TEACHER


Please go to the search box at this website and type "If I were you."

You will find many helpful threads.

 

[rajan]

just a thought crossed my mind. In stead of writing "you", "in place of you" can be more appropriate. Can a person be exactly like others, no. That is why "in place of you" can be more appropriate. Please guide.

In unreal conditionals: If I were you I would do it right now.
In wish structures: I wish I were English.

 

[TheParser]

just a thought crossed my mind. In stead of writing "you", "in place of you" can be more appropriate. Can a person be exactly like others, no. That is why "in place of you" can be more appropriate. Please guide.

ONLY A NON-TEACHER'S OPINION


(1) You have raised an excellent point!

(2) To the best of my knowledge, no one would say "If I were in place of

you, I would not do that," BUT I think that people quite often might say something

like:

If I were in your place, I would not do that.

(3) Congratulations! Your comment showed great thinking.

 

[Tdol]

In stead of writing "you", "in place of you" can be more appropriate.

Can you give a single example of this?

If I were you, I wouldn't do that? :tick

In place of you, I wouldn't do that. :cross:​

Can a person be exactly like others

It's a conditional and deals with unreal situations like this.

Please do not present unverified conjecture as having a grounding in fact. Musings are not a substitute for analysis, but you present this as something that can be more appropriate. This is not correct. If you wish to ask a question, then please ask a question. Please do not state some idle conjecture as a fact and then say please guide- this could be highly confusing for learners.

 

[Tdol]

Why do we use ' If I were ' instead of ' If I was '

It's the subjunctive. I would also point out that many users do say If I was. In formal language, If I were is preferred, but many in many regions, people don't use it. For a learner, I would recommend using If I were as it's always right and will make grammar traditionalists happy.

 

[rajan]

i got the point you have made.

Not a Teacher

As you have asked me to give an example that is why I am further writing.


If i say if I were in place of you/in your place, i would not do that.
If I had been in place of you/in your place, i would not have done that.

are these sentences wrong.

Can you give a single example of this?

If I were you, I wouldn't do that? :tick

In place of you, I wouldn't do that. :cross:​

It's a conditional and deals with unreal situations like this.

Please do not present unverified conjecture as having a grounding in fact. Musings are not a substitute for analysis, but you present this as something that can be more appropriate. This is not correct. If you wish to ask a question, then please ask a question. Please do not state some idle conjecture as a fact and then say please guide- this could be highly confusing for learners.

 

[Tdol]

in place of you/in your place

These are not exact synonyms.