Si yo fuera alguien que te gustara

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by irmamar

So people there don't say "were", but "was". Does anybody say "were"?

Pues yo no.
I only say If I were if I'm going to give advice
Example
If I were you I'd take the motorway because it's quicker.

[CrOtALiTo]

Motorway another way to say highway.

I like the idea.

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

Motorway another way to say highway.

I like the idea.

Motorway = British
Highway = American

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by poli

If I were you, I would.

Good sentence.

Originally Posted by Here4good

Pues yo no.
I only say If I were if I'm going to give advice
Example
If I were you I'd take the motorway because it's quicker.

Although completely opposite to this one (and you're British).

I've been taught to say "if I were" in conditional sentences (but sometimes I forget it).

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Although completely opposite to this one (and you're British).

I don't understand this comment irmamar!

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Here4good

I don't understand this comment irmamar!

Because Perikles, who is British, defends "were", while Chileno, who lives in USA says that "was" is commonly used there (furthermore, I study BE and I've been taught to say "were"). So I came to the conclusion that BE used "were" while AE used "was" in 'if sentences'. That was just a logical reasoning.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Because Perikles, who is British, defends "were", while Chileno, who lives in USA says that "was" is commonly used there (furthermore, I study BE and I've been taught to say "were"). So I came to the conclusion that BE used "were" while AE used "was" in 'if sentences'. That was just a logical reasoning.

Quite right. It's very simple - were is an imperfect subjunctive, was is an imperfect indicative. In hypothetical situations, you use an imperfect subjunctive, not an indicative, because that is the point of the difference between the two moods. Those who don't know about a subjunctive mood will use an indicative. Many British people use was instead of were and it makes me cringe, but then I'm probably old-fashioned.

Not all "if sentences" require the subjunctive

If it has stopped raining, we'll go for a walk. (simple conditional, indicative, because it's a possibility)

If only it were Tuesday (hypothetical, thus subjunctive, because it's Friday)

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Because Perikles, who is British, defends "were", while Chileno, who lives in USA says that "was" is commonly used there (furthermore, I study BE and I've been taught to say "were"). So I came to the conclusion that BE used "were" while AE used "was" in 'if sentences'. That was just a logical reasoning.

Ahhh vale. ¡No entendía nada!
¿Sabes qué? Llevo más que veinte años enseñando inglés, y aunque Perikles me mata, a mí no me parece muy importante si dices was or were porque parece que depende de la zona y la cultura y no sé que más. Si estas negociando con un holandes, un slovako, y un americano y dices was en vez de were todos te van a entender igual. Ahora, si estas haciendo el examen del TOEFL or el First es otra historia...

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

Quite right. It's very simple - were is an imperfect subjunctive, was is an imperfect indicative. In hypothetical situations, you use an imperfect subjunctive, not an indicative, because that is the point of the difference between the two moods. Those who don't know about a subjunctive mood will use an indicative. Many British people use was instead of were and it makes me cringe, but then I'm probably old-fashioned.

Not all "if sentences" require the subjunctive

If it has stopped raining, we'll go for a walk. (simple conditional, indicative, because it's a possibility)

If only it were Tuesday (hypothetical, thus subjunctive, because it's Friday)

Yes, you're right, I forgot those 'if sentences'.

You should have a kind of RAE, so we, English students, would be able to know what is correct or not.

Thanks.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Here4good

Motorway = British
Highway = American

Thank you for the explanation.

In any case I can use them in my English.

This Sunday I will be in the motorway with drift to Calakmul.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Here4good

Ahhh vale. ¡No entendía nada!
¿Sabes qué? Llevo más que veinte años enseñando inglés, y aunque Perikles me mata, a mí no me parece muy importante si dices was or were porque parece que depende de la zona y la cultura y no sé que más. Si estas negociando con un holandes, un slovako, y un americano y dices was en vez de were todos te van a entender igual. Ahora, si estas haciendo el examen del TOEFL or el First es otra historia...

I didn't see your post yesterday. I'm studying English Philology and I'm not sure if my teachers would like if I wrote () in an exam 'was' instead of 'were' (this is a common mistake I make). I'd like to be sure.

[Rusty]

The subjunctive mood is almost non-existent in modern American or British English. Very few people use it in daily speech.

I recognize it only because I know Spanish and read the KJV. I sometimes get strange looks when I slip it into a conversation.

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I didn't see your post yesterday. I'm studying English Philology and I'm not sure if my teachers would like if I wrote () in an exam 'was' instead of 'were' (this is a common mistake I make). I'd like to be sure.

No your teachers probably wouldn't, but that's the thing about studying languages for a qualification - you're studying for an exam, not real life!! In real life language changes all the time, and I think especially English as it has so many influences.
If in doubt, follow the grammatical rules. As I said, it's not a big thing. As you know there are plenty of other grammatical rules that are written in stone and should not be "violated" under any circumstances!!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The subjunctive mood is almost non-existent in modern American or British English. Very few people use it in daily speech.

I can't speak for AmE, but this is simply incorrect for BrE. I don't have figures, but virtually all people I ever speak to can and do use a distinctive subjunctive form when appropriate.

Originally Posted by Here4good

No your teachers probably wouldn't

Sorry, I disagree here, too. If the teacher is remotely interested in philology, or not a teenager, he/she would mark it as incorrect. The point is really that using were instead of was in the right construction is bound to be correct. Nobody in their right mind would mark it as incorrect, so why not use it anyway to be sure?

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I can't speak for AmE, but this is simply incorrect for BrE. I don't have figures, but virtually all people I ever speak to can and do use a distinctive subjunctive form when appropriate.

Sorry, I disagree here, too. If the teacher is remotely interested in philology, or not a teenager, he/she would mark it as incorrect. The point is really that using were instead of was in the right construction is bound to be correct. Nobody in their right mind would mark it as incorrect, so why not use it anyway to be sure?

Perikles, you have understood the exact OPPOSITE of what I said. Yes, a teacher (who is probably just going to follow the rules after all) would mark if + I + was wrong.
Irmamar said
I'm not sure if my teachers would like if I wrote () in an exam 'was' instead of 'were'
And my reply was
No your teachers probably wouldn't....If in doubt, follow the grammatical rules.
Hope that's clear now

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Here4good

Perikles, you have understood the exact OPPOSITE of what I said.

You are quite correct, I misread your post entirely. Sorry. I agree with your argument - use the most correct language for an exam, even if you don't put it into practice afterwards. (Rather like a driving licence exam )

[Here4good]

Originally Posted by Perikles

You are quite correct, I misread your post entirely. Sorry. I agree with your argument - use the most correct language for an exam, even if you don't put it into practice afterwards. (Rather like a driving licence exam )

Uff, thank goodness we've got back on track!! I thought I'd written entirely the wrong message for a moment!!
PS I was going to say exactly the same thing about the driving exam in that post to irmamar, but thought that people might not know what I was getting at

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I can't speak for AmE, but this is simply incorrect for BrE. I don't have figures, but virtually all people I ever speak to can and do use a distinctive subjunctive form when appropriate.

That is refreshing to hear. I'm sorry I grouped the British with the Americans. I guess it depends upon which circles you frequent, but most Americans don't use the subjunctive.

[chileno]

I guess the key thing here is to be able to recognize it, right?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by chileno

I guess the key thing here is to be able to recognize it, right?

Right.

Originally Posted by Rusty

That is refreshing to hear. I'm sorry I grouped the British with the Americans. I guess it depends upon which circles you frequent, but most Americans don't use the subjunctive.

The subjunctive can lurk almost invisibly, because quite few forms are identical to the indicative. There are however the following:

Long live the King (OK - political content here, ignore that)
Long live the Republic (hortative subjunctive)
May all your Chrismasses be white
The committee requests the president that he reconsider his decision (subjunctive)

Would that last one just not be correct in AmE ?