2020-10-14
ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด I – If I was – If I were
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Common Errors in English Usage Dictionary
If I was – If I were
The subjunctive mood, always weak in English, has been
dwindling away for centuries until it has almost vanished.
According to traditional thought,
statements about the conditional future
such as “If I were a carpenter . . .” require the subjunctive“were";
but “was” is certainly much more common.
Still, if you want to impress those in the know with your usage, use “were.”
The same goes for other pronouns: “you,” “she,” “he,” and “it.”
In the case of the plural pronouns “we” and “they”
the form “was” is definitely nonstandard, of course, because it is a singular form.
BRITISH DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS FOR WERE
USAGE FOR WERE
Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctivein English,
is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses
(if he were to die, she would inherit everything),
suppositions contrary to fact (if I were you, I would be careful),
and desire (I wish he were there now).
In informal speech, however, was is often used instead
Collins English Dictionary
Usage:
Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctive in English,
is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses
(if he were to die, she would inherit everything),
suppositions contrary to fact (if I were you, I would be careful),
and desire (I wish he were there now).
In informal speech, however, was is often used instead
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
Our Living Language
Although many irregular verbs in English once
had different singular and plural forms in the past tense,
only one still does today
—be, which uses the form was with singular subjects
and the form were with plural subjects,
as well as with singular you.
The relative simplicity in the forms of most verbs
reflects the long-standing tendency of English speakers
to make irregular verbs more regular by reducingthe number of forms used with different persons, numbers, and tenses.
Since past be is so irregular, speakers of different vernacular dialects have regularized it in several ways.
In the United States, most vernacular speakers regularize past be
by using was with all subjects, whether singular or plural.
This pattern is most common in Southern-based dialects, particularly African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Some speakers use were with both singular and plural subjects;
thus, one may hear she were alongside we were.
However, this usage has been much less widespreadthan the use of was with plural subjects and appears to be fading.
In some scattered regions in the South, particularly in coastal areas of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, vernacular speakers may regularize past be as was in positive contexts and regularize it as weren't in negative contexts,
as in He was a good man, weren't he? or They sure was nice people, weren't they?
At first glance, the was/weren't pattern appears to come from England,
where it is fairly commonplace.
However, in-depth study of the was/weren't pattern in coastal North Carolina
indicates that it may have developed independently,
for it is found to a greater extent in the speechof younger speakers than in that of older coastal residents.
Other forms of negative past be include warn't, common in American folk speech in the 1700s and 1800s, and wont, as in It wont me or They wont home.
Wont, which often sounds just like the contraction won't, historically has been concentrated in New England and is also found in scattered areas of the South.
Collins COBUILD English Usage
were
1. used to talk about the past
Were is the plural form and the second person singular form of the past tense of be.
They were only fifty miles from the coast.
You were about twelve at the time.
2. used in conditional clauses
Were has a special use in conditional clauses
when these clauses are used to mention situations that do not exist,
or events that are unlikely to happen.
When the subject of the clause is I, he, she, it, there,
or a singular noun, were is sometimes used instead of 'was',
especially in formal writing.
If I were in his circumstances, I would do the same.
If the law were changed, it would not benefit women.
In conversation and in less formal writing, people usually use was.
If I was an architect, I'd re-design this house.
If the business was properly run this wouldn't happen.
Both was or were are now considered correct in clauses like this and are acceptable even in formal writing.
The fixed phrase 'If I were you' almost always
contains were, even in informal English. Don't say 'If I was you'.
If I were you, I'd start looking for a new job.
Be Careful!
Don't confuse were /wə/ with where /weə/.
You use where to make statements orask questions about place or position.
Where is the nearest train station?
