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Primary English · Year 6Chapter 7 · Formal and informal English and the subjunctive
Year 6 English · Formal and informal English and the subjunctive · Lesson 7.3

Year 6 English: The subjunctive: if I were you

Part of the Year 6 English formal and informal english and the subjunctive chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

7.3

The subjunctive: if I were you

Year 6
Use the subjunctive in formal English, e.g. if I were you (Y5-6 grammar)
Story. A pupil asks the careers adviser for help. The adviser says, if I were you, I would apply for the scholarship, and that the decision is yours to make.

The subjunctive is a form of the verb used for imagined or unreal situations, and for wishes. After if, the subjunctive uses were for all subjects: if I were, if she were, if they were.

In everyday speech many people say if I was, but in formal writing the subjunctive were is used for imagined situations.

The subjunctive after if

SentenceFormWhy
If I were you, I would apply.werean imagined situation
If she were taller, she could reach.werean imagined situation

Key ideas

  • After if, use were for an imagined or unreal situation.
  • Were is used for I, he, she, it and they in the subjunctive.
  • The subjunctive is found in formal writing and speech.
Worked example 7.3.1
Complete the sentence: If I ___ you, I would apply for the scholarship. Write the word from the options was or were.

Method. Think about whether the situation is imagined.

  1. Find the situation. The speaker is not really you, so the situation is imagined.
    imagined
  2. Choose the form. After if, for an imagined situation, the subjunctive is were.
    were
  3. Check the sentence. If I were you, I would apply for the scholarship.
    were
  4. Write the answer.
    were

Check. were is the subjunctive after if. ✓

Worked example 7.3.2
Complete the sentence: If she ___ taller, she could reach the top shelf. Write the word from the options was or were.

Method. The situation is imagined, so use the subjunctive were.

  1. Find the situation. She is not taller, so the situation is imagined.
    not taller
  2. Choose the form. The subjunctive after if is were.
    were
  3. Check the sentence. If she were taller, she could reach the top shelf.
    were
  4. Write the answer.
    were

Check. were is used for an imagined situation. ✓

Worked example 7.3.3
Is the subjunctive used in If he is in charge, he will decide.? Answer yes or no.

Method. The situation is real and possible, so the ordinary present is used, not the subjunctive.

  1. Check the situation. He might be in charge, so the situation is real.
    real
  2. Choose the form. A real situation uses is, not were.
    is
  3. Write the answer. The subjunctive is not used here.
    no
  4. Write the answer.
    no

Check. A real situation uses the ordinary present. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: use were in an imagined situation, not was. Write If I were you, not If I was you, in formal writing.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask your child to finish three sentences that begin with If I were, such as If I were a bird, I would fly to the sea.

Exercise 7C  Practice: the subjunctive after if

1
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: If I ___ you, I would apply for the scholarship. Choose one: was or were.
2
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: I suggest that she ___ the book before the test. Choose one: reads or read.
3
PSChoose the word that completes the sentence: If it ___ sunny, we would go to the beach. Choose one: was or were.
4
PSChoose the word that completes the sentence: If I ___ a bird, I would fly over the sea. Choose one: was or were.
5
FWrite the form of the verb to be that completes this formal sentence: If the team ___ fitter, it would win. Write the word only.
6
PSWrite one sentence that begins with If I were and gives advice.
7
RExplain in one sentence why were is used in If I were you.
8
PSChoose the word that completes the sentence: If she ___ on time, she would have caught the bus. Choose one: had been or was.
9
PSRewrite in formal English: If I was you, I would ask the teacher. Use the subjunctive were.
10
FChoose the word that completes the sentence: If the king ___ alive, he would be proud. Choose one: was or were.
11
FChoose the subjunctive form in If he were the captain, the team would win. Write the word only.
12
RWrite a formal sentence that uses if I were for an imagined situation about a famous person, without naming a real person.

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