Would that I were rich is correct?

Would that I were rich is correct?

Would that I were rich! This sentence using ‘would’ is the simple present tense version. It simply implies, ‘if I was rich, then I could do something’. Usually, ‘would’ is the past tense version of ‘will’. However it is an auxiliary verb that expresses present tense.

Why use if instead of if I were?

Why do you use IF I WERE and not IF I WAS? The reason we use WERE instead of WAS is because the sentence is in the SUBJUNCTIVE mood which is used for hypothetical situations. This is a condition which is contrary to fact or reality (the fact is, I am NOT you).

Can I use were with I?

We use “were” with you and they and we: it is the plural past form. But sometimes we can use “were” with I (he, she, it): I wish I were a sailor.

Were and would in a sentence?

“If I were you, I would have enjoyed my vacation.” “If I were you, I would have explained what happened.” “If I were you, I would have continued working until it was done.” “If I were you, I would have booked my reservations now.”

Is it grammatically correct to say I were?

Many people use if I was and if I were interchangeably to describe a hypothetical situation. The confusion occurs because when writing in the past tense, I was is correct while I were is incorrect. However, when writing about non-realistic or hypothetical situations, if I were is the only correct choice.

Was or were in a sentence?

If you want to remember easily, you can think of was/were as the past tense form of the auxiliary verbs am, is and are. Generally, “was is used for singular objects and “were” is used for plural objects. So, you will use “was” with I, he, she and it while you will use “were” with you, we and they.

Is it if I were you grammatically correct?

Is if I were a boy grammatically correct?

You should always use the subjunctive after if to suggest a hypothetical situation e.g. if I were lucky, if it were to rain, if I were a boy, if I were you. But in casual, informal, spoken language, many people use the present tense e.g. if I was lucky, if it was to rain, if I was a boy, if I was you.