If I were you...

Question

If I were you - 為什么用were不用am?

Answer 1

If I were you
伊個其實係conditional tense既Type2

conditional tense既其他例子有:
Type0: 用黎講事實
e.g. If you heat an ice, it melts. (present tense // present tense)
Type1: 用黎講條件性
e.g. If it is rainy, I will not go out. (present tense // future tense)
落雨我就唔出街.. 調轉黎睇.. 唔落雨我就出街

而Type2係用黎表達一d假設性或者現階段可能性甚低或者永遠冇可能既事
e.g. If I were a bird, I would fly. (past tense // would + bare infinitive)

反而你點解唔問下用were唔用was呢~
哈哈~自問自答講埋俾你聽啦
伊個係英文既subjunctive既其中一個case
表示假設性或者冇可能既時候..
就算唔係you或者眾數人稱we/they
都會用到were
If he were a handsome boy, I would love him.
如果佢係靚仔,我就會中意佢
伊度係表示佢冇可能係靚仔,所以冇可能中意佢

2006-12-27 20:31:28 補充：
俾多一兩個type2既例子If I won in the lottery game, I would buy a new house.If he did not die, I would marry him.

Answer 2

when writing in regard to a circumstance that can never come true,
example : if i were a PIG, if i were a STAR IN THE SKY, if i were YOU
(u can never be anyone else but just yourself, right?)
it is a MUST to use Past Tense.

more examples:
1. he would not have fallen off the cliff if he COULD fly
2. she would be able to fly if she WAS a bird
3. if i WERE you i would marry John

Answer 3

因為你冇可能真係做到果個人,所以唔可以用現在式(am),要用過去式...