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 Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:00 pm I wish I were VERSUS I wish I was |
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I wish I were (was)..only were
| Quote: | | If I failed my final, I would have not passed the class(would not pass the class) |
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In brackets is the correct grammar form
If I studied some more I wouldn't have to be so nervous before the exam
For the fourth sentence I have no clue
I'd wrote:
If I did better on my final I would get an A for the class or
If I had done well on my final I would have got an A for the class(or would get with "now")
That are my personal assumptions. Let's wait for the moderators, cooliegirly! |
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Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1232
Location: RF
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| Sat Oct 21, 2006 13:29 pm I wish I were or I wish I was? |
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Hi, cooliegirly. I think Pamela is right at least about the first two sentences. I've tried to explain them here:
I wish I were...
The following pair of sentences shows the traditional and useful distinction:
"If I was a hopeless cad, I apologize."
-- If you think that I behaved unmannerly earlier (in the past, yesterday, last week, ...), I'm sorry for that! Forgive me!
"If I were a hopeless cad, I would never apologize."
-- I'm not a hopeless cad but if I were, I would never apologize (because hopeless cads never apologize).
This is purely hypothetical. The "I wish I were" structure is hypothetical, too. That's why we use "I were".
(examples from http://alt-usage-english.org/excerpts/fxifiwas.html)
If I failed my final (in the future), I would not pass the class (in the future).
Compare with
If I fail my final (in the future), I will not pass the class (in the future).
The sentence in bold has the same meaning but suggests that failing the final is not likely, in other words - there is a small probability of failing the final.
I'm not sure about the other sentences. There are a number of different variants which have different meanings. Here's a summary of the the first three conditional types in English. I don't have time right now to give the others. Note the use of the comma when the If-clause comes first.
Present-Present (Zero Conditional)
Used for: General truths and scientific facts
Suggests that: If the condition is met, the result is generally always true.
Examples:
If you push the red button, the machine starts.
If you win the Nobel Prize, you get a lot of money.
People always complain about traffic if they travel at rush hour.
If you freeze water, it turns into ice.
Present-Future (First Conditional)
Used for: Specific situations in the present or future
Suggests that: If we meet the condition, we're very likely to get the result we expect.
Examples:
If you take the 5.35 bus, you will get here at 6 o'clock.
If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
If I leave now, I will get there in time but if I dawdle, I will be late.
Note: It is also possible to use this instead of the zero conditional - If you push the red button, the machine will start.
Past-Conditional (Second conditional)
Used for:
a) Same as First Conditional
b) (More commonly) Hypothetical situations in the present or future
Suggests that:
a) There is a smaller probability of meeting the condition than with the first conditional.
b) The condition is untrue but we imagine what it would be like if it was true. (In the present or future)
Examples:
a) It would be difficult to get there if it snowed. (Most likely it won't snow but if it does snow, it will be difficult to get there)
b) If I had some free time, I would help you. (I don't have time so I won't help you)
If I had money, I would buy a motorbike. (I don't have money so I won't buy a motorbike)
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sls
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 05 Oct 2006
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Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
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| Sat Oct 21, 2006 13:50 pm I wish I were VERSUS I wish I was |
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If I could have studied some more, I wouldn't have to be so nervous before the exam.
I think this sentence is fine only if there is an indication, "now", for example, in the principal clause or "yesterday', perhaps, in the subordinate clause. |
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Pamela
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 1232
Location: RF
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| Sat Oct 21, 2006 14:25 pm I wish I were or I wish I was? |
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Hi cooliegirly
I'll add my comments about your sentences:
1.
| Quote: | | I wish I were (was)... |
For an "unreal" usage, you should use "were" in extremely formal English. However "was" is extremely widely used in both written and spoken English. Good grammar books will tell you that both "were" and "was" are correct. Bad grammar books say that only "were" is possible. 
sls has also posted some good comments and examples.
2.
| Quote: | | If I failed my final, I would have not passed the class(would not pass the class). |
In spoken (American) English you will often hear the simple past tense form used in the IF-half of a type 3 IF-sentence. That's because native speakers hate using the past perfect form, especially in spoken English. You will know whether a future event (Type 2) or a past event (Type 3) is being discussed based on the verb tense used in the other half of the sentence and also from the whole context of the conversation.
Spoken AmE, informal Type 3 IF-sentence (past):
If I failed my final, I wouldn't have passed the class.
(In written English the sentence above would be incorrect unless the meaning discussed below - after "HOWEVER" - is the case.)
Spoken and written, Type 3 IF-sentence (past):
If I had failed my final, I wouldn't have passed the class.
- HOWEVER -
If I failed my final, I wouldn't have passed the class. (future + past)
This sentence might be considered formally correct (as a mixed conditional) even by conservative grammarians in the following situation:
You have already taken the test, but you don't know the test results yet. So, knowing the test results still lies in the future. But you already know that you passed the class.
If it were true that I failed my final, I wouldn't have passed the class. But I passed the class, so that means I must have passed the final, too.
Therefore, the sentence would be a mixed conditional (Type 2 + Type 3) in this kind of situation.
Spoken and written, Type 2 IF-sentence (future):
If I failed my final, I wouldn't pass the class.
3.
| Quote: | If I could have studied (studied) some more, I wouldn't have to be so nervous before the exam.
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If I could have studied some more, I wouldn't have to be so nervous before the exam.
This is a so-called mixed conditional -- a mix of Type 3 + Type 2 and it is correct both informally and formally. It first refers to something you didn't do in the past and then refers to the effect on (what is happening) now and/or the future.
If I studied some more, I wouldn't have to be so nervous before the exam.
This is a standard Type 2 IF-sentence. It talks about the future.
4.
| Quote: | | If I did better on my final, I could have gotten (would have gotten) an A for the class. |
This is the same phenomenon as in your second sentence. It can be seen as an informal (spoken) Type 3 conditional (past). It should not be used in written English.
This sentence seems unlikely to possibly be valid as a "standard" mixed conditional (i.e., future + past). (See comments after "HOWEVER" in #2)
Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7443
Location: Northeast US
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| Sat Oct 21, 2006 19:35 pm I wish I were VERSUS I wish I was |
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It's me again, cooliegirly.
In my first post, I didn't think long enough about the 4th sentence, so I'd like to add some thoughts:
4. (using the word could):
| Quote: | | If I did better on my final, I could have gotten an A for the class. |
This sentence could be used in a situation where the speaker has already taken the final, but doesn't yet know the score of the final test. The speaker also doesn't know yet whether he/she got a A for the class. In other words, the student will know the results of both in the future.
'If it's true that I did better than expected (or better than on other tests, etc.) on the final, then there is a possibility that I might have gotten an A for the course. But I won't know any of this until the end of the week (at which time all of the results will be officially posted).
This sentence is similar to a Type 2 conditional. (future)
4. (using the word would):
| Quote: | | If I did better on my final, I would have gotten an A for the class. |
This sentence still sounds like an "informal Type 3" to me (i.e., everything is in the past; the student already knows the results). But if I change my mind, I'll let you know.
Amy
_________________
Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7443
Location: Northeast US
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| Sun Oct 22, 2006 13:22 pm I wish I were VERSUS I wish I was |
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Ah, thanks all of you. Amy, this is how I summarize your explanation, I hope I'm doing alright:
If one did this, that wouldn't happen.
If one had done this, that wouldn't have happened.
Exception: First act is in the past, second act is in the future.
If one could have done this, that wouldn't happen. (first act is in the past, second is in the future)
If one did this, that wouldn't happen. (both acts are in the future)
If one did this, that could have happened. (first act is in the past, second is in the future)
If one did this, that would have happened. (since this is informal, to be safe I will not use it when I write) |
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cooliegirly
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 256
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| Sun Oct 22, 2006 14:01 pm Conditionals |
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Hi Cooliegirly,
If you can take any more, I'll refer you to a couple of items I've written on conditionals and the subjunctive, which you may find useful:
Conditionals
http://www.english-test.net/lessons/13/index.html
Subjunctives
http://www.english-test.net/lessons/15/index.html
Alan
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English as a Second Language
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Alan
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Location: UK
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| Sat Oct 28, 2006 10:07 am I wish I were VERSUS I wish I was |
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That's very helpful, but I'm just going to learn it later.
Actually I'm more confused now. |
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cooliegirly
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 24 Jul 2005
Posts: 256
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