Episode 27: If I Were You

Second Conditional (advice) — Warren Buffett, 1990s (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: “If I were you” uses second conditional to give advice by imagining yourself in another person’s situation.

Form: If I/he/she/it were + noun/adjective, subject + would + base verb. (Use ‘were’ for all persons in formal advice, not ‘was.’)

Example 1: “If I were you, I’d apologize immediately.” (Imagining I’m in your position to give advice.)

Example 2: “If she were smarter about it, she’d negotiate before accepting.” (Hypothetical advice about her approach.)

Common mistake: Wrong: “If I was you, I’d quit.” Better: “If I were you, I’d quit.” (Use ‘were’ for all persons in this structure.)

The Challenge

Luna wrote advice to a friend: “If I was you, I’d wait before making that decision.” Professor Wisdom paused. “For advice using second conditional, always use ‘were,’ not ‘was.’ It’s a special form that shows you’re imagining being in their position.” Luna looked surprised. “Even for ‘I’?” “Especially for ‘I,'” he said. “It’s one of English’s few remaining subjunctive forms.” The watch glowed. “Let’s hear from someone who gave priceless advice this way.”

The Journey

Omaha, 1990s. A young investor sat nervously across from Warren Buffett in his modest office. Buffett, already known as the Oracle of Omaha, had agreed to this meeting as a favor to a friend. The young man had just received a high-paying job offer from a prestigious investment bank, but something felt wrong about it.

Buffett listened carefully, his eyes thoughtful behind simple glasses. He’d built his fortune not through fancy offices or aggressive tactics, but through patient wisdom and choosing work he actually enjoyed. Now in his sixties, he’d learned that career advice had less to do with money than most people thought.

“If I were you,” Buffett began slowly, “I’d ask myself one question: If you were already rich, would you still take this job?” The young man hesitated. Buffett continued. “If I were in your position at twenty-five, I’d choose the work that excited me, not the one that impressed other people.”

He leaned back. “People think, ‘If I were wealthy, then I’d do what I love.’ But it works backwards. If you were doing what you loved, you’d probably become successful at it. And if success were guaranteed either way, which job would you choose?”

The young man sat quietly, realizing Buffett wasn’t telling him what to do. By saying “If I were you,” Buffett was inviting him to step into a clearer perspective, to see his own situation from outside his anxieties.

The Deep Dive

“If I were you” is second conditional’s most common advice form. We use ‘were’ (not ‘was’) for all persons because this is the subjunctive mood, a grammatical form reserved for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations. Using ‘were’ signals we’re imagining an impossible situation (I cannot literally be you), which creates respectful distance in advice-giving.

Compare: “If I were you, I’d leave now” (advice, imagining your situation) vs. “If you leave now, you’ll catch the train” (direct suggestion, first conditional). Second conditional advice feels less pushy because it explicitly acknowledges the speaker isn’t you and can’t fully know your situation.

When NOT to use: Avoid “If I were you” for commands in urgent situations. “Get out, the building’s on fire!” beats “If I were you, I’d leave the building.” Also avoid overusing it, which can sound patronizing. One piece of conditional advice per conversation is enough.

More Examples

Career: “If I were you, I’d ask for a raise before accepting more responsibilities.” (Advice based on imagining their position.)

Relationships: “If I were in your shoes, I’d have an honest conversation with him.” (Variation using ‘in your shoes,’ same meaning.)

Education: “If I were her, I’d take a gap year to figure out what I really want.” (Advice about someone else’s hypothetical choice.)

Investment: “If this were my money, I’d diversify instead of putting everything in one stock.” (Buffett-style advice using ‘were.’)

Contrast: “You should leave” (direct advice, can feel pushy) vs. “If I were you, I’d leave” (softer, acknowledges it’s ultimately their decision).

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blank: If I _ (be) you, I _ (not/accept) that offer without negotiating.

2. Correct the mistake: “If I was in your position, I would speak to the manager.”

3. Choose and explain: Which sounds more respectful?
   a) “You should quit that job.”
   b) “If I were you, I’d consider quitting that job.”

4. Rewrite: Transform “You should save more money” into advice using “If I were you.”

5. Compare: Explain why we say “If I were you” instead of “If I was you” even though we say “I was tired yesterday.”

6. Your reflection: Write advice you’d give to your younger self using “If I were you” structure.

Answer Key:
1. were, wouldn’t accept (always ‘were’ in this structure, even with ‘I’)
2. “If I were in your position…” (Use ‘were,’ not ‘was.’)
3. (b) sounds more respectful; it acknowledges the person’s autonomy and frames advice as perspective-sharing, not commanding.
4. “If I were you, I’d save more money.” (Or: “I’d start saving more.”)
5. “If I were you” uses subjunctive mood for hypothetical situations (impossible to be you). “I was tired” uses simple past for real past events. Different grammar rules apply.
6. Check: Does your sentence use ‘If I were you, I would…’? Example: “If I were you, I’d worry less about others’ opinions and trust my instincts more.”

The Lesson

Luna corrected her sentence: “If I were you, I’d wait before deciding.” The Professor nodded. “That ‘were’ carries wisdom. It says, ‘I’m not you, I can’t be you, but if I could imagine your world perfectly, here’s what I’d consider.’ Buffett understood: the best advice doesn’t command. It invites someone to see their situation from a slightly different angle.” Luna smiled. Sometimes the most respectful way to help is to admit you can only imagine their position, never truly inhabit it.