13 Lún 2010 · SYNOPSIS: Sometimes it must be “if I was”, but at other times it can be “if I were” — and for some speakers in those cases, perhaps even must be “if I were” in their idiolect.

if I were This we call the second conditional utilising the subjunctive form, which can be used to discuss hypothetical/unreal situations. If I were a cop, I would wear a uniform implies that I am …

18 Iúil 2023 · My partner frequently starts sentences with "If <present tense statement>" where the present tense statement is referring to a future or hypothetical situation. Examples: "If ...

In your specific case, neither 'was' nor 'were' is best; you should say "if it is running". "If it were running" is subjunctive case, used to describe hypothetical situations: "If it were running, I …

In British English, both of those are acceptable, and as I understand it, equivalent. In American English, however, were is required in hypothetical sentences like these, rather than was. For …

15 Márta 2012 · +1 particularly for "If you will hand in your homework, I will grade it." That one seems natural to me as a native speaker, but I'm always noticing slightly different variations …

Strictly speaking, the second is the normal construction. This is a form of the conditional that didn't happen. Here is an explanation: If I hadn't had the example sentences, I wouldn't have …

22 Feabh 2019 · Yes, you most definitely could. if + past simple / would + have + past participle. You have two verbs in the past form (to know and to tell). Therefore, the tense is consistent in …

27 Meith 2020 · Interesting analysis. I should say that the use of the base form 'be' in this way still occurs in the dialects of the South West of England (Dorset, Devon and Somerset etc). Certainly …

Grammar rules say that hadn't is used for unreal past conditions, but why can't we use simple past negation instead of past perfect? If I hadn't come to the meeting, it wouldn't have happened. If ...