Which one is correct?

[lucasmoore]

Which of the two sentences is correct?

1. If I was you, I would prefer Mangosteen juice to Orange juice.
2. If I were you, I would prefer Mangosteen juice to Orange juice.

 

[5jj]

Welcome to the forum, lucasmoore.

In British English, some would consider only #2 correct, but #1 is accepted and used by many today.

 

[probus]

Somehow this answer got separated from its question.

 

[5jj]

Somehow this answer got separated from its question.

I don't know what happened there, but I have now restored the question.

 

[emsr2d2]

I don't know what happened there, but I have now restored the question.

And I've moved the thread to "Ask A Teacher" which seems much more appropriate.

 

[emsr2d2]

Lucasmoore, please check that the information in your profile is correct. It says your current location is the UK but that does not appear to be the case.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Which of the two sentences is correct?

1. If I was you, I would prefer Mangosteen juice to Orange juice.
2. If I were you, I would prefer Mangosteen juice to Orange juice.

As an AmE speaker, I would consider only #2 acceptable, It is obvious that the speaker/writer is not the other person. That is the reason for the subjunctive.

 

[Tdol]

I don't see any need to capitalise the fruits.

I use #2 as it was drummed into me as the correct form in school. I would also recommend using it as many speakers regard #1 as an error, especially in formal language. However, many speakers do use #1.

 

[Barb_D]

As we have learned over the years in ESL forums, Americans insist on the subjunctive more than our UK cousins.

 

[Rover_KE]

lucasmoore, please note that a better title would have been If I was/were you.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'