What is the difference between if and were?
if | were |
Supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that;
Supposing that;
Although;
(computing) In the event that a statement is true (a programming statement that acts in a similar manner).
Whether;
* 1715–1717 , , Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind , Canto III:
(usually hyperbolic) Even if; even in the circumstances that.
* 2004', (singers), “'''If It’s The Last Thing I Do” (song), in ''You Do Your Thing (album):
(informal) An uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc.
* 1709, Susannah Centlivre, The Busy Body'', Act III, in John Bell (ed.), ''British Theater , J. Bell (1791),
* 1791 January, "Richard?on’s Chemical Principles of the Metallic Arts''", in ''The Monthly Review , R. Griffiths,
* {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., work=New York Times
, passage=Even if they managed to strike Japan, the United States or South Korea with nuclear weapons — a big if , given that they do not have a reliable delivery system — they could not save themselves from ultimate defeat.}}
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:* with "if" omitted, put first in an "if" clause:
:*: Were''' it simply that she wore a hat, I would not be upset at all.'' (= '''''If''' it '''were simply... )
:*: Were''' father a king, we would have war.'' (= '''''If''' father '''were a king,... )
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=November 3
, author=David Ornstein
, title=Macc Tel-Aviv 1 - 2 Stoke
, work=BBC Sport
(Northern England) was.
(archaic) man (human male), as in .
(obsolete) A fine for slaying a man; weregild.
* Bosworth
(fandom) The collective name for any kind of person that changes into another form under certain conditions, including the werewolf.
As nouns the difference between if and were
is that if is (informal) an uncertainty, possibility, condition, doubt etc while were is (archaic) man (human male), as in.As a conjunction if
is supposing that, assuming that, in the circumstances that;.As a verb were is
second-person singular simple past tense indicative of be.if
English
(wikipedia if)Conjunction
(English Conjunctions)- If it rains, I will get wet .
- I'd prefer it if you took your shoes off.
- He was a great friend, if a little stingy at the bar.
- If A, then B, else C.
- I don't know if I want to go or not.
- Quoth Matthew, “”
- If' it’s the last thing I do / '''If''' it takes me from Tubilo to Timbuktu / '''If''' it’s the last thing I do / I’m gonna dodge every road block, speed trap, county cop / To get my hands on you / ' If it’s the last thing I do.
Usage notes
* Specifically a subordinating conjunction.Derived terms
* iff * if and only if * if clause * if only * as if * even if * if so beAlternative forms
* ifen * iffenNoun
(en noun)page 59,
- Sir Fran.'' Nay, but Chargy, if——— ¶ ''Miran.'' Nay, Gardy, no Ifs'''.——Have I refus'd three northern lords, two British peers, and half a score knights, to have put in your ' Ifs ?
page 176,
- Well might Bergman add, (in his Sciographia,''), “if the compari?on that has been made, &c. be ju?t.” The pre?ent writer makes no ''ifs about the matter, and has ?uperadded a little inaccuracy of his own, […]
citation
Derived terms
* big if *See also
* and * else * false * or * then * trueStatistics
*were
English
Etymology 1
(etyl) .Verb
(head)- John, you were the only person to see him.
- We were about to leave.
- Mary and John, you were right.
- They were a fine group.
- They were to be the best of friends from that day on.
- I wish that it were Sunday.
- I wish that I were with you.
citation, page= , passage=Maccabi would have been out of contention were it not for Stoke's profligacy, but their fortune eventually ran out as the visitors opened the scoring.}}
Synonyms
* (second-person singular past indicative, archaic'') wast (''used with "thou" ) * (second-person singular imperfect subjunctive, archaic'') wert (''used with "thou" )See also
* am * are * is * art * be * being * been * beest * was * wast * wertEtymology 2
(etyl) wer, from (etyl) .Noun
(wikipedia were) (en noun)- Every man was valued at a certain sum, which was called his were .