i was/were - without if

[englishmix]

so i know usually the correct is "I were", but all the examples i found were with an "if". but on american tv i have heard many times I was.
so online i found this https://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes ... re-and-why

If I was wrong, I apologize.
If I were wrong, I would apologize.

on the website it says both ways correct in different moods. maybe someone can clarify this for me?
thanks

[Venreaver]

I believe that "were" is suitable only for hypothetical clauses or plural form. When you talk about possibility being wrong it could be true. So you can use "was".

[JamesWatson]

The second sentence is an expression of subjunctive mood.
The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a wish, a suggestion, a command, or a condition that is contrary to fact.

"I were... I would .." is for expression of subjunctive mood. So, the second sentence implies that I am sure that I was not wrong at all.

[Josef Essberger]

Please see were-Subjunctive at:
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/sub ... e.htm#were

[Josef Essberger]

If I was wrong, I apologize.
If I were wrong, I would apologize.

The question here is more about logic than grammar. You have to get into your head the idea that:
in the first case the speaker doesn't know if he was right or wrong, and
in the second case the speaker (thinks that he) knows that he was right (so for the speaker, it's a fact).

Since "being wrong" is contrary to fact, he uses the subjunctive (as explained by JamesWatson).

Look at some other sentences:

Suppose I were tall. Would you love me? (Is the speaker tall?)
I wish I were slim. (Is the speaker slim?)
If I was there, why did no-one see me? (Was the speaker there?)

And I've given you one example of "I were" without if.

And btw, many native speakers say "if I was" when "if I were" would be correct. It's almost normal usage in informal speech. But I wouldn't recommend it in your TOEFL

[englishmix]

The second sentence is an expression of subjunctive mood.
The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a wish, a suggestion, a command, or a condition that is contrary to fact.

"I were... I would .." is for expression of subjunctive mood. So, the second sentence implies that I am sure that I was not wrong at all.

thanks.
but it the guy feels he did no wrong, should it be "if i were wrong i would have apologized [optional: already]" ?

[JamesWatson]

The second sentence is an expression of subjunctive mood.
The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to express a wish, a suggestion, a command, or a condition that is contrary to fact.

"I were... I would .." is for expression of subjunctive mood. So, the second sentence implies that I am sure that I was not wrong at all.

thanks.
but it the guy feels he did no wrong, should it be "if i were wrong i would have apologized [optional: already]" ?

Yes, I think so.

[LashellB]

You can use were (instead of was) in statements that are contrary to fact.

Here is one example:

If I were you, I wouldn't tempt those alligators by swimming here. (Were is the proper choice because the statement is contrary to fact.)