Which is correct if it was or if it were grammar?
A good trick to decide which you want to use is to determine if the thing you are talking about is something that actually happened or something that you are wishing or imagining might have happened. If it really happened, use “if I was,” but if not, go with “if I were.” Phew! Our heads hurt just thinking about that.
Is it grammatically correct to say if I was?
Many people use if I was and if I were interchangeably to describe a hypothetical situation. The confusion occurs because when writing in the past tense, I was is correct while I were is incorrect. However, when writing about non-realistic or hypothetical situations, if I were is the only correct choice.
How do you use if you were in a sentence?
If you use if you were, you describe something very unlikely or even impossible to happen in reality. Such as: If I were a millionaire, I would …… or If I could fly, I would …… In this case, both of them are acceptable, but the second one is more commonly used.
Can I say if it were?
‘If it were ‘ subjunctively, is used in hypothetical situations, in an improbable situations but ‘ if it was’ could be used in everyday conditional clauses.
Is if I were a boy grammatically correct?
Senior Member. It’s were instead of was because it’s a contrary-to-fact situation that calls for the subjunctive. Many English speakers do not make the distinction and simply say “if I was a boy,” but this is not considered correct.
Why do you say if I were?
If I were you is used when giving ADVICE about what you would do in the same situation as the other person. You imagine yourself in their position or situation and what you would do or how you would react. If I were you, I would study more.
What is meant by as it were?
Definition of as it were Seemingly, in a way, as in He was living in a dream world, as it were. A shortening of “as if it were so,” this idiom has been in use since Chaucer’s time (he had it in his Nun’s Priest’s Tale, c. 1386). Also see so to speak.
What verb tense is if I were?
‘If I were’ is used in statements that are not real or cannot be fulfilled. In grammar, this usage of the verb is called ‘the subjunctive mood’; it is used in relation with hypothetical statements in the present tense.
Why do we say if I were?
“I were” is called the subjunctive mood, and is used when you’re are talking about something that isn’t true or when you wish something was true. If she was feeling sick… <– It is possible or probable that she was feeling sick.
Is if she were correct grammar?
If the verb in the if clause is “to be,” use “were,” even if the subject of the clause is a third person singular subject (i.e., he, she, it).
What does if I were mean?
Definition of if I were (someone) —used when expressing an opinion as to how another person should act or behave I’d study more if I were you. If I were him, I’d go see a doctor.
Were it not for the fact meaning?
DEFINITIONS1. used for saying what prevents the situation from being different. If it were not for the fact that he is my father, I’d accuse him in public.
When you say as it in a sentence?
Definition of as it is 1 : in the present condition : the way it is Leave everything exactly/just as it is. 2 : with the situation that exists now We have enough to do as it is without your latest orders!
Which is correct if I was a bird or if I were a bird?
I would say it is past. In “If I were a bird”, the ‘were’ is the past subjunctive of ‘to be’. If it were the present, the sentence would be, “If I be a bird”, which is probably even more obsolete than the past form.
What is the rule for using was and were?
A good rule to remember is when a sentence begins with there, the subject is found after the verb. Once the subject has been identified, use was if the subject is singular and were if the subject is plural. Keep this rule in mind when trying to decide whether to use was, were or some other form of the verb to be.
Is if always followed by were?
If the verb in the if clause is “to be,” use “were,” even if the subject of the clause is a third person singular subject (i.e., he, she, it). See the examples below for an illustration of this exception: If I was a rich man, I would make more charitable donations.
Which is correct if it wasn’t for or if it weren’t for?
“Wasn’t” is gramatically correct. “If it weren’t” would not be used in spoken language either.
Which is correct if I were or if I was there?
If I Were The correct sentence should be – if I had been there – because this is a hypothetical situation. If I was present, I would take care of the situation. – X (wrong) The situation was not taken care of, so clearly the statement is not true. Hence, we should use ‘were’ and not ‘was’.
What is the difference between were and was in grammar?
Let’s help to clear up the confusion. Guideline: Use were (instead of was) in statements that are contrary to fact. Closer look: Statements contrary to fact, especially those that begin with “if,” call for a special form of the verb known as the SUBJUNCTIVE.
How do you use if I was in a sentence?
As a general rule, use If I was + adjective + present tense (in the then clause). Each sentence above is true or real and the then clause has the result of the if clause.
Can you use were in the if clause?
“Was” or “Were” in the “If” Clause/Conditional. Grammarly. Basics. If you find yourself debating whether to use “was” or “were” in a sentence, it’s likely that you’re dealing with an unreal conditional sentence. As a refresher, an unreal conditional sentence expresses events that are hypothetical or improbable.