Was vs. Were

1. 2017-04-09 at 7:17 AM UTC

   #1
   The Self Taught Man Black Hole
   Can a native English speaker please settle this:
   
   If I was you...
   
   If I were you...
   
   Which is the correct one to use? Was or were? I hear both in this context and it makes no sense.
2. 2017-04-09 at 7:26 AM UTC

   #2
   

   Lanny Bird of Courage
   Both sound native, I think you probably hear "if I were you" a little bit more, for some reason it sounds a little more proper or formal. Although thinking about it, were tends to take plural arguments, i.e. "they were late" is correct while "they was late" is improper, sounds like west coast ghetto usage. But "you" in this case is presumably singular right? Or is there some other tense, since "you" can be both?
   
   Fuck it, I don't know, but both "if I were you" and "if I was you" sound fine.
3. 2017-04-09 at 11:18 AM UTC

   #3
   

   Sophie Pedophile Tech Support

   Originally posted by Lanny Both sound native, I think you probably hear "if I were you" a little bit more, for some reason it sounds a little more proper or formal. Although thinking about it, were tends to take plural arguments, i.e. "they were late" is correct while "they was late" is improper, sounds like west coast ghetto usage. But "you" in this case is presumably singular right? Or is there some other tense, since "you" can be both?
   
   Fuck it, I don't know, but both "if I were you" and "if I was you" sound fine.

   
   I wish you read Dutch and OP too because we have an equivalent in Dutch bot both are not correct.
   
   "Als ik jou was" <- Literally means, "If i was you"
   
   "Als ik jou zou zijn" <- Literally means, "If i were you"
   
   The thing is, in Dutch only the first use is correct. And i use "If i were you" to convey the same meaning in English.
4. 2017-04-09 at 12:34 PM UTC

   #4
   Ajax African Astronaut [rumor the placative aphakia]
   If I "were" you is correct.