Level 07 – Step 04 : The Past Subjunctive (If I were) (If I were you, I would help. If he were here, he would smile.)
/Level 07 – Step 04 : The Past Subjunctive (If I were) (If I were you, I would help. If he were here, he would smile.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to talk about wishes, unreal situations, and polite advice using “If I were.”
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn how to talk about wishes, unreal situations, and polite advice using “If I were.”
🐧Igupen: So we say things that are not true now, or things we imagine?
/🐧Igupen: So we say things that are not true now, or things we imagine?
🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho.
/🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho.
🦉Professor Owl: Yes — we imagine a different situation and then say what would happen.
/🦉Professor Owl: Yes — we imagine a different situation and then say what would happen.
Listen, imagine, and try the examples.
/Listen, imagine, and try the examples.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What is the past subjunctive with “If I were”?
/What is the past subjunctive with “If I were”?
Use “If + subject + were” to talk about something that is not true now or is unlikely.
/Use “If + subject + were” to talk about something that is not true now or is unlikely.
After the if-clause, use “would” (or could, might) to show the imagined result: If I were you, I would help.
/After the if-clause, use “would” (or could, might) to show the imagined result: If I were you, I would help.
If he were here, he would smile.
/If he were here, he would smile.
We use “were” with I, he, she, it, or they in these imagined sentences.
/We use “were” with I, he, she, it, or they in these imagined sentences.
This is called the past subjunctive or unreality form.
/This is called the past subjunctive or unreality form.
Use it for advice: If I were you, I would say sorry.
/Use it for advice: If I were you, I would say sorry.
Use it for imaginary situations: If I were rich, I would travel the world.
/Use it for imaginary situations: If I were rich, I would travel the world.
Use it for polite or less certain statements: If he were here, he might know the answer.
/Use it for polite or less certain statements: If he were here, he might know the answer.
Important: This does not mean the past time; it shows that the situation is not real now.
/Important: This does not mean the past time; it shows that the situation is not real now.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
When you imagine something different from reality, start with “If” + “were” and then use “would” for the result.
/When you imagine something different from reality, start with “If” + “were” and then use “would” for the result.
If + were → would + base verb.
/If + were → would + base verb.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
If I were you, I would help → Advice (you are not me).
/If I were you, I would help → Advice (you are not me).
If he were here, he would smile → Imagining he is here now (but he is not).
/If he were here, he would smile → Imagining he is here now (but he is not).
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 If I were you, I would help.
/No.01 If I were you, I would help.
No.02 If he were here, he would smile.
/No.02 If he were here, he would smile.
No.03 If I were rich, I would buy a house.
/No.03 If I were rich, I would buy a house.
No.04 If she were older, she would drive a car.
/No.04 If she were older, she would drive a car.
No.05 If they were on time, we would start the movie.
/No.05 If they were on time, we would start the movie.
No.06 If I were a bird, I could fly above the trees.
/No.06 If I were a bird, I could fly above the trees.
No.07 If you were honest, people would trust you.
/No.07 If you were honest, people would trust you.
No.08 If it were warmer, we would play outside.
/No.08 If it were warmer, we would play outside.
No.09 If he were my brother, I would protect him.
/No.09 If he were my brother, I would protect him.
No.10 If I were brave, I would speak to the hero.
/No.10 If I were brave, I would speak to the hero.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Make advice with If + were: (you / lost / ask for help)
/Q1: Make advice with If + were: (you / lost / ask for help)
Q2: Complete: If I were _____, I would learn a new language. (rich)
/Q2: Complete: If I were _____, I would learn a new language. (rich)
Q3: True or False: “If I were a teacher, I will give homework” is correct.
/Q3: True or False: “If I were a teacher, I will give homework” is correct.
Q4: Change to subjunctive: I am not free now → (If I / free / I / come)
/Q4: Change to subjunctive: I am not free now → (If I / free / I / come)
Q5: Choose the correct sentence: A) If he were here, he would know. B) If he was here, he would know.
/Q5: Choose the correct sentence: A) If he were here, he would know. B) If he was here, he would know.
Q6: Fill in the blank: If it _____ colder, the lake would freeze. (be)
/Q6: Fill in the blank: If it _____ colder, the lake would freeze. (be)
Q7: Make a sentence imagining you could fly. (start with If I were)
/Q7: Make a sentence imagining you could fly. (start with If I were)
Q8: Choose the best modal: If she were taller, she _____ join the team. (can / could / would)
/Q8: Choose the best modal: If she were taller, she _____ join the team. (can / could / would)
Q9: Identify function: “If I were you, I would finish homework first.” — Is this advice, imagination, or past fact?
/Q9: Identify function: “If I were you, I would finish homework first.” — Is this advice, imagination, or past fact?
Q10: Correct the sentence: If I were you, I will help.
/Q10: Correct the sentence: If I were you, I will help.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: If you were lost, you would ask for help.
/A1: If you were lost, you would ask for help.
A2: rich → If I were rich, I would learn a new language.
/A2: rich → If I were rich, I would learn a new language.
A3: False — use “would” not “will”: If I were a teacher, I would give homework.
/A3: False — use “would” not “will”: If I were a teacher, I would give homework.
A4: If I were free, I would come.
/A4: If I were free, I would come.
A5: A is correct: If he were here, he would know.
/A5: A is correct: If he were here, he would know.
A6: were/be → If it were colder, the lake would freeze.
/A6: were/be → If it were colder, the lake would freeze.
A7: If I were able to fly, I would fly above the clouds.
/A7: If I were able to fly, I would fly above the clouds.
A8: could → If she were taller, she could join the team.
/A8: could → If she were taller, she could join the team.
A9: Advice.
/A9: Advice.
A10: Correct form: If I were you, I would help.
/A10: Correct form: If I were you, I would help.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Very good.
/🦉Professor Owl: Very good.
🦉Professor Owl: Remember: “If + were” helps you imagine, give advice, or talk about things that are not true now.
/🦉Professor Owl: Remember: “If + were” helps you imagine, give advice, or talk about things that are not true now.
🐧Igupen: I’ll try writing three “If I were” sentences about things I wish for.
/🐧Igupen: I’ll try writing three “If I were” sentences about things I wish for.
🦉Professor Owl: Wonderful.
/🦉Professor Owl: Wonderful.
🦉Professor Owl: Practice imagining — it makes your English more flexible and polite.
/🦉Professor Owl: Practice imagining — it makes your English more flexible and polite.
