[etni] Re: ...If I were If I was....
- From: Tamar Nahari <tamarnahari@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: tessiesabbag@xxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 21:53:55 +0200
*"If I were" is used in conditional sentences - hypothetical - and is
usually followed by "I would or could ..." **i.e. "If I were a rich man..."*
*"If I was" has beome acceptable in informal spoken English but is not
considered acceptable in formal written English (according to Betty Azar).*
*However, I would definately agee with the person who wrote that if we are
discussing a present - true - situation, "If I was (late, then I'm sorry)"
is acceptable because we aren't really making a conditional, hypothetical
sentence.*
*Tamar.
*
On Sat, Feb 6, 2010 at 6:39 PM, Tessie Sabbag <tessiesabbag@xxxxxxxxx>wrote:
> My colleagues and I are trying to understand this one. Maybe somebody out
> there knows. Please reply to:
> tessiesabbag@xxxxxxxxx
>
> (thanks)
>
>
>
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >"I know it is correct to say "If I were you" rather than "if I was you".
> But it is ... larger...," "If Eisenhower was president..." So what are the
> rules for using "were" and "was" in this type of situation?"
> >
> >Can the hypothesized fact become true? If so, use "was." Otherwise, use
> "were." To parallel "was," you may need "had been" rather than "were,"
> because "were," despite being the form of the passive indicative, is used
> for present circumstances.
> >>Examples:
> >- If I was late in arriving last night, I wam unaware of it, because I
> didn't know the deadline and I still don't. (It's possible I was late, so I
> use "was.")
> >- If I had been late, I would have apologized, but I arrived on time. (I
> can't have been late, so I use "had been.")
> >
> >- If I were the sort of person who sometimes arrives late, I would
> apologize for doing so. (I am not that sort of person. In this case, I
> suppose you could argue that I'm lying, but my use of "were" is intended to
> convey that I am telling the truth.)
> >>- If I were president-elect, I'd demand an immediate recount. (Of course,
> I'm not president-elect.)
> >- If I was asked to name my favorite movie, I'd respond "Casablanca."
> (Obviously it's possible that someone would ask what my favorite movie is.)
> >>Things can get jumbled at the margin, and this use of "were" is less
> common in the UK than i the US, but that's the general idea.
> >
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------
> ** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org
> or - http://www.etni.org.il **
> ** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx **
> ** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **
> -----------------------------------------------
>
>
-----------------------------------------------
** Etni homepage - http://www.etni.org
or - http://www.etni.org.il **
** for help - ask@xxxxxxxx **
** to post to this list - etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx **
-----------------------------------------------
Other related posts: