"I wanted to be a doctor" vs "If I were a doctor"

Question

"I wanted to be a doctor" vs "If I were a doctor"

The phrases 'if I were a doctor' and 'I wanted to be a doctor' have different meanings and are not directly comparable. 'If I were a doctor' is a hypothetical statement about being a doctor in a different situation, while 'I wanted to be a doctor' expresses a desire or aspiration in the past. They serve different purposes in a sentence.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

This phrase is used to talk about a desire or goal that someone had in the past but may not have pursued or achieved. It indicates a wish or dream from a previous time.

Examples:

When I was young, I wanted to be a doctor.
I wanted to be a doctor, but I ended up becoming a teacher.
She always wanted to be a doctor since she was a child.

This phrase is used to talk about a hypothetical scenario or condition that is not true in reality. It is often used in conditional sentences to imagine a different situation.

Examples:

If I were a doctor, I would help people in need.
If I were a doctor, I would have to study for many years.
If I were a doctor, I could save lives every day.

Answer 1

I wanted to be a doctor

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a past desire or aspiration.

Answer 2

If I were a doctor

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express a hypothetical situation or condition.

"I wanted to be a doctor" vs "If I were a doctor"

I wanted to be a doctor

If I were a doctor

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