27/08/2025
Diction Corner with tutor Israel.
A Subtle Grammar Twist: Why "Were" Beats "Was" in Imaginary Situations
Take a look at these:
❌ If I was a bird, I would fly across the ocean.
✅ If I were a bird, I would fly across the ocean.
❌ If he was the teacher, he would cancel the test.
✅ If he were the teacher, he would cancel the test.
❌ If she was a queen, she would live in a castle.
✅ If she were a queen, she would live in a castle.
❌ If it was winter, we would be wearing jackets.
✅ If it were winter, we would be wearing jackets.
Notice something? These sentences don’t talk about reality — they describe imaginary or impossible situations. That’s why English grammar flips the normal rule.
👉 Normally, “was” is correct in past tense (I/he/she/it was).
👉 But when the situation is unreal, hypothetical, or contrary to fact, we switch to were no matter who the subject is.
More examples:
🟢 If I were rich, I’d travel the world. (But I’m not rich)
🟢 If you were invisible, what would you do first? (You’re not invisible)
🟢 If we were neighbors, we’d see each other often. (We aren’t neighbors)
🟢 If he were stronger, he could lift this table. (He isn’t strong enough)
💡 Quick Tip: In everyday casual speech, especially in American English, many people still say “If I was…”.
But in formal writing or polished English, always use “If I were” for imaginary conditions.
✨ Did you know this rule before now? Drop me a “YES” if you did or a “NO” if you just learned something new.
