Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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hsmom
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 5:52am | IP Logged Quote hsmom

In speaking/writing which is correct:

If I was you I would....

If I were you I would.....

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stellamaris
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:33am | IP Logged Quote stellamaris

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?

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MaryM
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:44am | IP Logged Quote MaryM

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.

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stellamaris
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:59am | IP Logged Quote stellamaris

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.


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stellamaris
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:02am | IP Logged Quote stellamaris

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!

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hsmom
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:45am | IP Logged Quote hsmom

Thanks ladies. The explanations and link were just what I needed. I knew I was wrong, I just didn't know why.

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MaryM
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:50am | IP Logged Quote MaryM

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.

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Erin
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Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 2:38pm | IP Logged Quote Erin

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.

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