Today my English college class we studied "first and second conditionals".
I've alread seen those things... however it's good revising such things.
The question is: the sentence
"If I were European, I could travel all around...",
could it be:
"I was European..."?
I mean, is it ok, as my professor said, using both of them when it is an informal situation or only "were" is possible?
tnx! How do you use that construction in your daily life?
That' it.
Ie - B r a z i l
ps: I'll check what the British say about it.
2006-11-10 00:33:42 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
You English teacher is right that If "I were European..." is the correct form. It is correct in the same way that you should say "To whom do you want to speak?" In real life very few people say it that way. Most people would say, "Who do you want to speak to?" And a lot of people would say, "If I was European . . ."
If you are writing something for work or school, you need to use "were." When you are talking to people, either "were" or "was" would be accepted by most people as correct.
English teachers tend to be more picky than most people about correct language!
2006-11-10 02:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by Love Shepherd 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If i were an European is correct.When you speak English,you speak to the understanding of your audience.Your professor will not accept that you use "was" instead of "were".You are free to commit that mistake in your speech to your friends and family but not to your professor.I in particular, do laugh at such a mistake when the speaker has left.Your grammar should be right in every language you study.You will never say "He are" in Spanish or any slang.
2006-11-10 16:29:40 · answer #2 · answered by Phy A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I WERE European... is what's known as Queen's English, upper class.
You could say 'If I was European...' but then you sound common, or badly educated.
'I was European' doesn't make sense because you're either European, or you're not.
NEVER: 'I were European'.
I was tired
I was hungry
Conditional English which makes sense.
I was Brazilian
I was alive
You are either Brazilian or not. You are either alive or...
You seem to write very well already so A+.
2006-11-10 09:06:02 · answer #3 · answered by eclipsed2908 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok. English is my first language and i am on the verge of mastering its speech. Unfortunately i do not seem to understand your question.
I think this is what you want to know, if not i am sorry.
If i were European and If i was European are correct.
Yeah it is okay.
I would say, if i were a European i would travell all around.
2006-11-10 08:41:06 · answer #4 · answered by Osunwole Adeoyin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I were European is the correct English. However, hardly anyone speaks correct English here so slang is okay.
2006-11-10 08:37:40 · answer #5 · answered by Pinolera 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I were European...
If I were a European...
I was European, but now I am Brazilian.
2006-11-10 08:38:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just so you know, the British and America, Canadian, and Australian sections are all combined. Asking one question on any of those sites = asking it on all the other sites.
2006-11-10 18:32:28 · answer #7 · answered by Belie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The grammar says: "If i were you..."! That is the right expression! I will give you some examples:
"If i were you, i would not have gone to the party"!
" If i were you, i would not have written so good"!
2006-11-10 08:45:06 · answer #8 · answered by baby 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people often say "If I was you" but conditional should be "if I WERE you" A LOT of people say it incorrectly, which is fine, but in a professional setting people would say it correctly.
2006-11-10 08:39:48 · answer #9 · answered by Marie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am maltese not british. i think that both of them are correct.
2006-11-10 08:45:19 · answer #10 · answered by Kcam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋