If it wasn't for the view, this would be a lovely room
and
If it wasn't because of the view,...
Which one should I use? Are they different from each other
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mplungjan
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for = because. "7. As a result of; because of: jumped for joy."; conj. Because; since. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/for – Kris Nov 29 '13 at 07:47
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However, here it's used more in the idiomatic sense of the but for Idiom: but for Were it not for: except for: We would have reached the summit but for the weather. – Kris Nov 29 '13 at 07:53
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1Here’s another example: ‘Oh! it really is a wery pretty garden / And Chingford to the Eastward could be seen / Wiv a ladder and some glasses / You could see to 'Ackney Marshes / If it wasn't for the 'ouses in between.’ – Barrie England Nov 29 '13 at 08:00
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Related: When are “because”, “since”,“for” and “as” interchangeable? – RegDwigнt Nov 29 '13 at 09:41
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@Reg I'm not too happy about the substitution of 'If it wasn't / (weren't) because of . . .' for 'If it wasn't / weren't for . . .' (ie with dummy rather than referential it). I don't think the linked article covers this. – Edwin Ashworth Nov 29 '13 at 10:09
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1Use "for". You can use "wasn't because" in sentences like: "Nobody ever returned to the Paradise Hotel. If it wasn't because of the insects, it was because of the food." – Peter Shor Nov 29 '13 at 14:14
1 Answers
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The correct choice is "for":
If it wasn't for the view, this would be a lovely room.
It is also common to use "weren't":
And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling kids!
The alternative of using "because of" is typically only used as such:
Because of the view, this is a lovely room.
I got away with it because of you meddling kids!
To phrase your original example this way, it would be:
Because of the view, this isn't a lovely room.
