I'd like to be a film star

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Minhuoc

#256450 Wed, 16 Aug 06 03:51 PM

Please tell me which is correct:

1. If I would be somebody else, I'd like to be a film star.

2. If I could be somebody else, I'd like to be a film star.

Both of them are correct, aren't they? Thanks

Minhuoc

Joined on Tue, Oct 18 2005

Full Member (358)

Inchoateknowledge

#256452 Wed, 16 Aug 06 03:53 PM

If I were sy else.
Grammatically it is possible to start both conditional clauses with 'would' -- quite rare, though.
In your first sentence the if clause with 'would' is incoherent.

Inchoateknowledge

Joined on Wed, May 3 2006

Senior Member (2,528)

Beep! Beep! :)

Clauses, Conditionals

Grammar Geek

#256453 Wed, 16 Aug 06 03:53 PM

#2 is the one you will hear.

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,592)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Minhuoc

#256459 Wed, 16 Aug 06 04:01 PM

Thank both of you a lot.

Minhuoc

Maple

#256488 Wed, 16 Aug 06 04:51 PM

Yes, only the second makes sense.

Maple

Joined on Tue, Jul 11 2006

An ESL student in China

Contributing Member (1,110)