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kynguyen
#37817 Sat, 17 Jul 04 01:20 AM
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Hi, I don't understand why we say: if I were you,...... I thought "were" or "are" for plural or used for you, we, and they. What if we put this in present tense such as: if I are you? why can't we say: if I was you,...?
I hope someone can explain this. Thanks.
Ky
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Joined on
Fri, Jul 2 2004
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kynguyen
#37818 Sat, 17 Jul 04 01:24 AM
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Hi again,
when using the word IF, does it have to be in the past?
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haoqide
#37822 Sat, 17 Jul 04 01:41 AM
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Hmmm...I don't know any way to explain the first part of your question, unfortunately...I just know it as one of the MANY obnoxious exceptions to rules in the pathetic mess of words and grammar we all call English.
Answering your second question, no. The word "if" does not have to be used in the past tense only.
For example, you could rightly say, "If you want to find Bob, you should look for him at his office." You could also say something like, "If you don't move that glass, it will fall off the table and break."
"If" is simply a conditional word, independent of tense. Hehe, a confusing language, isn't it?!
I hope this helps!
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Joined on
Mon, Jul 5 2004
Nashville, TN
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miriam
#38057 Mon, 19 Jul 04 05:01 AM
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Hello, Kynguyen.
You can have a look at this thread for the use of "was" and "were": http://www.englishforums.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=30839
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Joined on
Mon, May 10 2004
Argentina
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"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." Plato
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