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Jisu98

#169425 Tue, 13 Dec 05 10:16 AM

Thank you in advance for reading and answering.

My question is about conditional sentences.

I learned that " If + subject + (verb)past sentence, ~ would (could , might,...)" is conditional sentences.

But, they say that I have to use 'were' instead of 'was', if the verb is "be" - verb.

For example, Is " The man looked as if he was drunk." not correct? Do I have to say, " The man looked as if he were drunk." Or, both are possible?

What about "If I was you, I would not do that." May I use it? I read that "If I were you~" is idionmatic, then maybe can not say " If I was you~". I am looking forward any answer.

Jisu98

Joined on Tue, Dec 6 2005

Korea

Full Member (183)

Verbs, Conditionals

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X11

#169470 Tue, 13 Dec 05 02:50 PM

Hello Jisu98.

It is very common to use were instead of was after if, both formally and informally. In a formal style, were is more common than was, and many people consider it more correct, especially in American English.

The grammatical term for this use of were is subjuntive.

So first of all, the man looked as if he was/were drunk. - both these sentence can be accepted, but I would personally use were in view of the rule mentioned above

If I was/were you, I would not do that. - It is the same with this sentence, and the again I would personally use were due to the rule mentioned above. Furthermore I seem to recall that that there is a certain rule saying that it is more appropriate to use were in this case, as it is an advice.

Regards Jay

X11

Joined on Tue, Nov 1 2005

Aarhus, Denmark

Full Member (120)

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American English, Regards

Anonymous

#578331 Mon, 20 Oct 08 03:49 PM

What if the "was/were" were in regard to an object rather than a person? For example, "The man wished it were Sunday morning".

Anonymous

Regards

Grammar Geek

#578334 Mon, 20 Oct 08 03:57 PM

Hello Anon,

This thread is so old that it would have been better for you to start a new thread with your question.

Objects take the third person form of the verb.

In your example, the subject is actually "it" which is not an object, and the subjunctive is used. It's used for (among other things) situations that are contrary to actual fact.

I wish I were going to the ball. He wished it were Saturday.

If it had not been in the subjunctive, the the 3rd-person, singular form would have been used. When was the party? It was Saturday afternoon.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (16,003)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Verbs, Subjunctives

Anonymous

#584982 Fri, 07 Nov 08 10:38 PM

Hi, Are you saying we cannot make the subjunctive out of (?) an object?

I wish it were real money that I was getting, not the money made?/printed? for children games.

Anonymous