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It may be a common mistake when learning but unless the student is advanced he or she wouldn't know that this is a literary form. There are many quotes beginning with if there weren't for, eg, If there weren't for spring, if there weren't for love, if there weren't for my heart, if there weren't for...

If there weren't for my mother is a subjuntive form used to express a dream, wish, desire or thought. It is not that common anymore simply that we use other ways to express ourselves. This is literary however and you'll see it in the more classic works. You'll also hear it in the old comedy skits fr...