Question
Updated on
13 Nov 2014
- French (France)
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
I know the rules for this example but just why we can't say "If I was you" ?
Why we need to use "If I were you" ?
Because were is for "You,We,They" but not for "I".
Thank you :) !
I know the rules for this example but just why we can't say "If I was you" ?
Why we need to use "If I were you" ?
Because were is for "You,We,They" but not for "I".
Thank you :) !
Why we need to use "If I were you" ?
Because were is for "You,We,They" but not for "I".
Thank you :) !
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- English (US)
I have heard it both ways. In spoken language, "if I was you" would work. However, in more formal language or when writing, use "were".
I'm a native speaker and I still don't know why we say it this way. Sorry!
- English (US)
Think of it like this. "Were," is used in "perfected," situations. It is used when Passé Composé would be used in French. "Were," is closer to l'imparfait. "Were," is also used for the subjunctive mood in English. English's subjunctive mood is less clear than French's, and is often used interchangeably with the Conditional mood.
This is a phrase that English speakers don't think about. We just say it, because it is what we've always heard. But it does have grammatical logic.
Is that helpful?
- English (US)
C'est un rare exemple de l'usage du subjonctif en anglais.
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