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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > If conditional (type2)
If conditional (type2)

lutfibajendooh
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If conditional (type2)
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dear all, which is correct:
If I were the president, I would cut the cost of education.
or If I was the president, I would cut the cost of education.
thanks a lot
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3 Nov 2013
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Adola
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I GUESS BOTH ARE CORRECT KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE 1ST MORE COMMENLY USED.... WHATEVER, THERE IS A WIDE SHIFT NOW FROM SUCH A STRUCTURALIST PROSPECTIVE TO LANGUAGE TO MORE COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE TEACHING... IF I WERE YOU, I WOULD FIND A ROOM IN MY CLASSES WHERE THE STS CAN USE COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH FOR REAL LIFE PURPOSES RATHER THAN ENCOURAGING THEIR CONCENTRATION ON PURE STRUCTURAL OUTDATED GRAMMAR
THANKS |
3 Nov 2013
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cunliffe
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Both are acceptable, but �if I were � is becoming outdated; I doubt if anyone younger than 20 would use it. |
3 Nov 2013
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chere
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"If I were" is the correct one.
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3 Nov 2013
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MoodyMoody
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I have to agree with Lynne; the subjunctive mood is dying in English. I still prefer "if I were," but many native speakers say "if I was." |
3 Nov 2013
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