If i were able vs If i was able

Both 'if I were able' and 'if I was able' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'If I were able' is the subjunctive mood and is used to express hypothetical or unreal situations. 'If I was able' is the past simple tense and is used to talk about past events or abilities.

Last updated: April 05, 2024 • 356 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express hypothetical or unreal situations.

"If i were able"

Use 'if I were able' when talking about a situation that is not true or possible in the present or future.

Examples:

If I were able to fly, I would visit every country in the world.
If I were able to speak Spanish, I would travel to Spain.

Show examples from the web [+]

Even if I were able to answer your technical question, I would not be permitted to.
If I were able to leave you with only one piece of crochet advice, it would be to always have fun.
If I were able to get up, I'd be outside with a machinegun!
For each one of you, as if I were able to...
If I were able to guess your palabra, would you be impressed?
I did a backup in June but have way too many pictures since then. Also, if I were able to somehow get it to do a backup now, does it erase the backup I have from June, or add it on?
If I were able to analyse a fragment, I could provide some information.
Think what joy if I were able to tell these people that there's a huge wealth in the ground.
But, if I were able to slow time down, things would start to get very strange.
My life would be far easier if I were able to construct a sports policy on the basis of an article in the Treaty.
It would be amazing if I were able to win a stage myself and to do that in such way, is just incredible.
It is not suited to my fortunes at present to remember injuries, which, even if I were able to revenge them, I still would rather forget.
Put my sons in half-day child care? If I were able to control my contractions, I would get out of the house for 30-90 minutes once a week?
What if I were able to assure you that any saltpeter procured for any continental militia would come solely from your colony?
What if I were able to promise you that humiliation always turns into rage?
What if I were able to help you find out...
What kind of system of justice would that be if I were able to say: I'll push that to one side, we won't deal with that.
If I were able to... smoke a bowl.

Alternatives:

if I could
if I had the ability to

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about past events or abilities.

"If i was able"

Use 'if I was able' when referring to a past situation where you had the ability to do something.

Examples:

If I was able to attend the meeting, I would have shared my ideas.
If I was able to run faster, I would have won the race.

Show examples from the web [+]

"I have always wanted to know if I was able to love like you do," said the disciple of a Hindu master.
What if I was able to make those markets available to you?
And it wouldn't be much of a punishment if I was able to fraternize with the general pop.
What if I was able to give you something worth much more than the $50,000?
If I was able to find my watch, I could tell you what time it is.
What if I was able to get the rebels missile launchers?
What if I was able to give you the designs for next fall's collections, today?
It's difficult to analyse and pin down and in some ways, I don't try to, as if I was able to quantify, it would probably reduce it's mystery.
With the ones that cut me loose when I needed them, I wonder what they would say if I was able to ask them why they turned their backs on me when I needed them most.
"I have always wanted to know if I was able to love like you do," said the disciple of a Hindu master.
I mean, if I was able to get them to come down.
Perhaps it would help me to, how you say, Catch up with the rest of the class If I was able to look at their assignments.
If I was able to cross that bridge you can, too.
If I was able to get Eun Sung that time, my life would be so wonderful.
If I was able to find you hiding on that sheep farm outside of Dingle, I can find this girl.
What if I was able to get the rebels missile launchers?
If I was able to say my own self was more important than my job...
I asked myself if I was able to let her go from my life
What if I was able to give both parties something without either side losing anything?
If I was able to win, I would have been the Chef already, instead of the kitchen assistant.

Alternatives:

if I had been able
if I could

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If i were able vs If i was able

"If i were able"

"If i was able"

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