Is this sentence formal?
If I was given more time, I would have less pressure
Why do we use "I was" rather than "I were"?
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1Welcome to English Language and Usage. You need to include your own research or use the search box when you ask a question here. Please visit Help Center and read the guidelines. – Jan 07 '17 at 08:12
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“We” don't. Some people do; I'm not one of them. – Janus Bahs Jacquet Jan 07 '17 at 11:59
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@ darcy ,Happy Saturday
According to below rule
"Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc., when considered as a unit"
and "Basic Rule. A singular subject (she, Bill, car) takes a singular verb (is, goes, shines), whereas a plural subject takes a plural verb."
So , here for the time we need to use "Was",instead of "Were"
As per below comments , according to @KateBunting,
Those are both grammatical, but mean very different things. 'If I were' is in the Subjective mood, 'if I was' is in the Indicative mood.
"If I were" is It's used in formal and literary English after a limited number of verbs.
Yes ,grammatical strictness indicates that "if I were" is usually correct and should be used.
Pradeep Sb
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Welcome to English Language and Usage. Your answer is wrong. Please read the question again. – Jan 07 '17 at 08:14
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1"Were" in this case is not a plural verb, but the subjunctive. To be strictly correct, the subjunctive should be used with "if". There are other threads on this topic. – Kate Bunting Jan 07 '17 at 09:53
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The modal preterite "was" is a perfectly acceptable alternative to the somewhat formal "were", which, btw, is not a subjunctive form but 'irrealis' mood. – BillJ Jan 07 '17 at 12:10