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Yesterday I heard someone saying

If I were born in 1920s, my name would have been Margaret.

and I was confused why she didn't say

If i had been born in 1920s

What's the difference here?

fev
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zoddy
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    It seems like hypercorrection to me. She was trying to use the subjunctive mood, and so used were incorrectly. It should be had been, or, to keep using were, were *to have been … my name* *would be*.. – Jason Bassford Aug 07 '20 at 18:09
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    A native English speaker would say "If I were (or had been) born in the 1920s". – Michael Harvey Aug 07 '20 at 19:03
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    Where did you hear this? I sounds like an English regional dialect to me, possibly East Midlands or some parts of Yorkshire. – BoldBen Aug 07 '20 at 20:04
  • I'm upvoting this question because of the dozens of similar questions at Quora, Word Reference, etc., none of which have a clear, correct answer. This is evidently a very common stumbling block. It may have reached the point where we just have to accept it as informal. – Phil Sweet Aug 08 '20 at 02:14
  • I agree with BoldBen - this sounds like dialect in which in the* 1920s* is reduced to in t'* 1920s* and finally to in 1920s**. – Greybeard Nov 07 '20 at 09:59
  • @Bold Ben "If ah wer born in't nahnteen twenties, ..." – Edwin Ashworth Mar 07 '21 at 17:10

1 Answers1

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A subjunctive form of the verb is used when talking about hypothetical scenarios.

When you’re describing a wish or an impossible situation, use were instead of was.

Akshay Prasath
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    That's true, but not the answer. We use were for hypotheticals in the present/future. For hypotheticals in the past we use had been. – Colin Fine Aug 07 '20 at 19:50