"if I was" or "if I were"
As my understanding, "if I were" means that it can't be true. For example, If I were you, I would study French. We use "if I were you", because I can't be you in any case, it can't be true definitely.

Well, I can't distinguish "if I were" and "if I was".

If I were you, I would go shopping tomorrow. (Currently the listener hasn't decided if he would go shopping or not)
If I were you, I would have gone shopping yesterday. (Currently the fact that the listener hasn't gone shopping has happened.)
If I was wrong, I would be sorry. (Currently I'm not sure if I was wrong or not)
If I were wrong, I would have been sorry. (Currently I have known that I was right, the fact that I was wrong hasn't happened).

Am I right about the understanding of these four sentences?

Furthermore, I'm not sure the sentence "If I were you, I would go shopping tomorrow." is correct, should I say "If I were you, I would go shopping tomorrow." or "If I was you, I would go shopping tomorrow."?

Question

"if I was" or "if I were"
As my understanding, "if I were" means that it can't be true. For example, If I were you, I would study French. We use "if I were you", because I can't be you in any case, it can't be true definitely.

Well, I can't distinguish "if I were" and "if I was".

If I were you, I would go shopping tomorrow. (Currently the listener hasn't decided if he would go shopping or not)
If I were you,  I would have gone shopping yesterday. (Currently the fact that the listener hasn't gone shopping has happened.)
If I was wrong, I would be sorry. (Currently I'm not sure if I was wrong or not)
If I were wrong, I would have been sorry. (Currently I have known that I was right, the fact that I was wrong hasn't happened).

Am I right about the understanding of these four sentences?

Furthermore, I'm not sure the sentence "If I were you, I would go shopping tomorrow." is correct, should I say "If I were you, I would go shopping tomorrow." or "If I was you, I would go shopping tomorrow."?

Answer

'if I were' - it refers to the future, or to  impossibilites.  So: If I were a rich man.  (I am not a rich man, but a dream to be a rich man one day.)  Or, if I were you ...completely impossible  - I could never be you.

'If I was' - refers to a past action. If I was wrong.  The action occurred, but your opinion about it is uncertain.

You cannot therefore say: If I were wrong.

Hope that clarifies things.

Answers · 1

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