Question
Atualizado em
29 ago 2019
- Chinês Simples (China)
- Chinês Tradicional (Hong Kong) Quase Fluente
-
Inglês (EUA)
-
Japonês
Pergunta encerrada
Pergunta sobre Inglês (EUA)
There is a song call “if I were a boy”, why not should be “if I was a boy” or “if I am a boy” which one is correct? And why?
There is a song call “if I were a boy”, why not should be “if I was a boy” or “if I am a boy” which one is correct? And why?
Respostas
29 ago 2019
Featured answer
- Inglês (EUA)
- Chinês Simples (China) Quase Fluente
Whenever you are imagining a separate reality than what IS (now), use "were" (If I were...).
English is changing, and informally, you can also use "was" (If I was...)-DO NOT use "if *you* was".
The conditional "if" can refer to three situations:
the past, the (unknown) present/future,
...and the *known present*. IF you already know I'm not a boy, it makes no sense to say "If I am a boy" - because I'm not.
The only way this could be the case *now* is if we lived in a different (imaginary) reality.
We denote this imaginary reality with the past tense "were".
The only case where "if I am a boy" would be grammatically accurate, as if we are speaking but you do not yet know if I'm a boy or girl or not
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- Inglês (EUA)
- Chinês Simples (China) Quase Fluente
Whenever you are imagining a separate reality than what IS (now), use "were" (If I were...).
English is changing, and informally, you can also use "was" (If I was...)-DO NOT use "if *you* was".
The conditional "if" can refer to three situations:
the past, the (unknown) present/future,
...and the *known present*. IF you already know I'm not a boy, it makes no sense to say "If I am a boy" - because I'm not.
The only way this could be the case *now* is if we lived in a different (imaginary) reality.
We denote this imaginary reality with the past tense "were".
The only case where "if I am a boy" would be grammatically accurate, as if we are speaking but you do not yet know if I'm a boy or girl or not
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
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