Guest  +  5166 Thu, 21 Aug 03 02:49 PM What is the most preferable form 'I was ' or 'I were' after 'as if' Guest

	moijelesuis  +  5193 Thu, 21 Aug 03 09:37 PM as if i were... as mentioned in another post, this is the final remnant of the past subjunctive in english. common vernacular usage of "as if i was" shows that this last vestige might also be on its way out of the english language... (subjunctive is used here because the expression "as if" makes the situation hypothetical, putting in doubt its truth or even its possibility, depending on the case) moijelesuis Joined on Sat, Aug 16 2003 usa/canada Full Member 116 Subjunctives

	kitkattail  +  5207 Thu, 21 Aug 03 11:26 PM "I was acting as if I were drunk, even though I was completely sober." BUT: "If he was indeed running yesterday, he must be tired." kitkattail Joined on Tue, Aug 12 2003 Toronto Full Member 400 www.kitkattail.blogspot.com

	Anonymous  suggested by Anonymous  +  881690 Mon, 31 Aug 09 11:43 PM Perhaps the best advice is to use WERE for the present  and WAS for the past.  One great grammarian gives these examples: "She speaks as if she were ashamed" but "She spoke as if she was ashamed."  One book used by many American college students simply gives this example: He acted as if he were/was losing his temper.  Nowdays, many native speakers use WAS even for the present, e.g., She speaks as if she was ashamed.  Anonymous Countries, United States, Students, American