| Author | |
hsmom
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 24 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 253
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 5:52am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
In speaking/writing which is correct:
If I was you I would....
If I were you I would.....
Thanks, Hsmom
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:33am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I believe "if I were...I would" is correct. "If" is conditional, that is, indicating something that might or might not occur and the verb should correspond to the mood the "if" clause creates. We would say, for example, "If I were a priest (but I'm not)", because this statement is in the subjunctive mood..that is, what I would do depends completely on my being a priest, and I'm not a priest. So it's totally speculative. "If I was" is used when the mood is indicative, that is, indicating something that may have happened, although there might be a question about it(some people think it happened one way, some another). We would never say "If I was you I would..." because there is no question about it...I could never be you. In fact, I'm thinking that anytime we use the construction "If I were...I would", we need to use "were". See this good explanation
Notice the difference between the meaning of their last example: "If I was at fault, I apologize" vs. "If I were at fault, I would apologize." In the first case, there is a question about whether I was in fact at fault and what I am doing is not at all speculative, I am apologizing. In the second scenario, I am saying I wasn't at fault and I won't apologize; that is, it's totally a speculation about what I would have done had I in fact been at fault (which I wasn't). Does all that make any sense?
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've read that the "were" form is correct at all times and is correct for formal English (subjunctive like Caroline explained) but "was" form seems to be accepted in informal, familiar conversation.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:59am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mary, I think the "was" form is rarely actually correct, but one of the common grammatical errors people make that is so frequent that it begins to sound correct. Something like "between you and I" or "he's smarter than me" or "us girls", all of which one often hears, but which are, in fact, wrong.
Truthfully, in everyday conversion, people don't correct other people's grammar, even when they know it is wrong. Everyone knows what is being said and just goes with it.
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:02am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Well, I meant to post that with a smile, so you knew I wasn't feeling critical, just commenting, but I hit send too soon  !
Btw, one of my favorite "fun" grammar/punctuation books is Eats, Shoots, and Leaves. So funny and fun for the high school students!
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
hsmom
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 24 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 253
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:45am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks ladies. The explanations and link were just what I needed. I knew I was wrong, I just didn't know why.
~Hsmom~
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:50am | IP Logged
|
|
|
stellamaris wrote:
| Well, I meant to post that with a smile, so you knew I wasn't feeling critical, just commenting, but I hit send too soon |
|
|
I knew how you meant it.  - So for the record I did not say the "If I was" form was correct, just that it is accepted... in the colloquial.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Erin
Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5814
|
| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 2:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MaryM wrote:
| - So for the record I did not say the "If I was" form was correct, just that it is accepted... in the colloquial. |
|
|
It is??? Not around here.
Signed
The Grammar Police 
__________________
Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Grammar ? Which is correct?
