Which sentence is grammatically correct , "If I WERE a butterfly" or "If I WAS a butterfly"? (not homework!)

Question

This is not homework help, I am writing a song, and I can't figure out which way to say it, if i WERE or if i WAS... any english teachers out there?? PLease help.

I really hope it is were, cause I already recorded and posted the song on You Tube, LOL!! But after I posted it the thought popped in my head, "is that grammatically correct?!" hahaha. Thanks for your answers, I feel confident that I used it correctly now.

Answer 1

"Were" is correct there. It is subjunctive.
I have zapped out the people who said that "was" is correct, so you don't get confused!

Think of the songs "If I WERE a rich man" and "If I WERE a capenter" and "If you were the only boy in the world, and I WERE the only girl".
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Answer 2

WERE is the correct way to say it. "Was" is never correct when used with a conditional statement like "if". My English teacher made a point to discuss the tricky conventions of the language as preparation for the SAT II Writing exam.

Answer 3

the correct sentence should be if i were a butterfly.

Answer 4

It depends on if you're trying to say that you have been a butterfly in the past (were) or if you are imagining the possibility of being a butterfly (was).

Answer 5

Were

Answer 6

Don't worry, you're right. It's "were" instead of "was"

Answer 7

Were. I'm not exactly sure why... but it is definitely 'were'

Answer 8

I think "was" is right. unless you plan to make it a dream sequence and you were dreaming of becoming a butterfly.