Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[lenin95]

Which expression is used more frequently - "if I were" or "if I was"?

I was taught the 'correct' way of saying it was "if I were", but I hear lots of people say "if I was".

Can "if I was" be used in formal speech or writing?


Thanks a lot in advance!

Matt

[dragn]

Both are often used in different situations. If I were is an example of the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is used to express wishes, commands, or statements that are hypothetical or are currently contrary to fact, among other things.

In conditional sentences, we use the subjunctive to talk about things that are contrary to fact, but whose possible implications we would like to consider. For example:

If I were president, I'd make a lot of changes.

Obviously I am not the president, but I'm considering what I might do if I were. In some situations use of the subjunctive in an IF-clause is inappropriate, because although we may be referring to something that is contrary to fact, we are not really considering the possible implications of its truth. For example:

If I were at Jane's party right now, I'd be having a great time.
(Subjunctive: I'm not there now, but I'm thinking about how much fun I'd be having if I were.)

If I was at Jane's party last week, I sure don't remember it.
(Indicative, or not the subjunctive: It really doesn't matter, but let's assume for the sake of argument that I wasn't there. I'm not considering any implications of anything. Nothing hypothetical here; somebody claimed I was there, but I don't remember it.)

This is a b-i-g topic, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Hope this helps.

Greg

P.S. Don't waste your time worrying about which is used more frequently. Worry about learning to use each correctly.

[lenin95]

I'm sorry I didn't explain clearly what I was asking. I was asking about the subjunctives in hypothetical sentences as "If I were a president ..." in your example. It's clear to me that we say: "My girlfriend asked me today if I was a gay" and not "... if I were a gay."

The thing is I often hear things like: I wish I was younger. OR If I was your boyfriend, I'd ... - Is this just my misunderstanding, or native speakers really say "I wish I was younger" instead of "I wish I were younger"; and if, is it simply informal English and when it can or can't be used?

I understand perfectly (I hope I do) why it is 'if I were' in hypothetical sentences, etc.

Thanks a lot!

[dragn]

OK, cool.

Yes, millions of native speakers of every nationality say "I wish I was" every single day of the week. You are not imagining things.

"I wish I were" is considered technically correct, as I am sure you understand. But in reality, use of the indicative ("I wish I was") is relatively common in ordinary speech (especially in British English, at least according to what I have read). Most Americans I know might say either one without giving it a second thought.

The following is merely my personal opinion. Feel free to agree or disagree and to form your own opinions.

* * * * * *

The simple truth is that 99 percent of Americans wouldn't know the subjunctive from a submarine sandwich. The average American just has a vague, fuzzy feeling that "I wish I were" sounds more "educated" because we tend to hear smart people speak that way. As a result, most Americans don't really care about it one way or the other unless they consciously want to "sound correct." Most average Americans, if asked, probably wouldn't tell you that "I wish I was" is grammatically incorrect.

For example, it's immortalized in the song Dixie, the de facto anthem of the Southern United States:

O, I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old times there are not forgotten
Look away! Look away!
Look away! Dixie Land...

O, I wish I was in Dixie!
Hooray! Hooray!
In Dixie Land I'll take my stand
To live and die in Dixie
Away, away,
Away down south in Dixie!
Away, away,
Away down south in Dixie!

Good luck finding a Southerner who would quibble with the grammar of Dixie.

Obviously, as a professional English teacher, I want my students to learn standard, correct English that meets the standards recognized by educated native speakers. Of course, I tell my students to say "I wish I were." However, I warn them, as I must on occasion, that they will routinely hear native speakers violate their own "rules" and say "I wish I was."

* * * * * *

Greg

[lenin95]

Thanks for your answer, Greg!
I'm really grateful for your contributing to this forum. You can't imagine how helpful this is.

Matt