'If I was' or 'If I were'?

'If I was' or 'If I were'?

First things first - to answer your question: Both



We often use were instead of was after if - in speech, many English people say If I was. In a formal style were is more common than was, and many people consider it more correct.


  • If I were rich, I would spend all my time travelling.
  • If my nose were a little shorter I'd be quite pretty.
  • If I were you, I’d fill the tank now so that we don’t run out of petrol.
  • If he were nicer, I wouldn't hate him so much.

Things to think about:

Are these sentences real or unreal?
Do we use them to describe what things are really like or what we wish should / would / could happen?

Further reading: As if / As Though 


[source: Practical English Usage, Grammar Girl, BBC Learning English]



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