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hsmom
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 5:52am | IP Logged
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In speaking/writing which is correct:
If I was you I would....
If I were you I would.....
Thanks, Hsmom
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stellamaris
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:33am | IP Logged
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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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Caroline
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MaryM
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:44am | IP Logged
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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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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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stellamaris
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 9:59am | IP Logged
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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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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
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stellamaris
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:02am | IP Logged
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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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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
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hsmom
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:45am | IP Logged
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Thanks ladies. The explanations and link were just what I needed. I knew I was wrong, I just didn't know why.
~Hsmom~
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MaryM
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 10:50am | IP Logged
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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 |
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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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Mary M. in Denver
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Erin
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| Posted: Oct 08 2009 at 2:38pm | IP Logged
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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. |
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It is??? Not around here.
Signed
The Grammar Police 
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Erin
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4Real Forums : Language Arts Come Alive
Topic: Grammar ? Which is correct?
