“If it was possible” and “if it were possible” are both grammatically possible, but they are used in different situations.
“If it were possible” is generally preferred when you are talking about a hypothetical, unlikely, or contrary-to-fact situation.
“If it was possible” is more natural when you are referring to a real possibility in the past or considering whether something actually happened.
For example, you might say, “If it were possible, I would travel back in time” because traveling back in time is hypothetical.
On the other hand, “If it was possible, she probably tried it” refers to whether something was actually possible in a past situation.
Understanding this distinction becomes easier once you recognize the difference between hypothetical conditions and real past possibilities.
Quick Answer
Use “if it were possible” for hypothetical, imaginary, unlikely, or contrary-to-fact situations. Use “if it was possible” when discussing a real or uncertain past possibility. In formal English, “if it were possible” is especially common for hypothetical situations.
Why Do People Confuse “If It Was Possible” and “If It Were Possible”?
The confusion comes from the unusual form “were.” Normally, we use was with singular subjects such as I, he, she, and it:
- I was tired.
- She was busy.
- It was difficult.
However, English has a special form called the subjunctive mood. In hypothetical statements, were can be used with singular subjects:
- If I were you…
- If he were here…
- If she were available…
- If it were possible…
This is why “if it were possible” can sound unusual at first. It does not follow the ordinary past-tense pattern.
The key question is not simply whether the sentence refers to the past. Instead, ask whether you are describing a real possibility or a hypothetical situation.
“If It Was Possible”: Meaning and Use
“If it was possible” usually refers to a possibility that existed in the past.
It can be used when the speaker does not know whether something was possible, or when they are talking about a real situation that may have occurred.
Examples
- If it was possible, they would have told us.
- I don’t know if it was possible to finish the project in one day.
- If it was possible to contact him yesterday, why didn’t you call?
- She checked to see if it was possible to change the booking.
- If it was possible, they probably found a way to do it.
Here, the speaker is considering an actual possibility rather than imagining an unreal situation.
“Was” Can Also Appear in Informal Hypothetical English
In everyday conversation, many speakers use “was” instead of “were” in hypothetical statements:
If it was possible, I would do it.
This can be heard in ordinary speech, particularly when the hypothetical situation does not feel extremely formal or obviously contrary to reality.
However, “if it were possible” is the traditional and more clearly marked form for an unreal or hypothetical condition.
“If It Were Possible”: Meaning and Use
“If it were possible” is used for a hypothetical, imagined, unlikely, or contrary-to-fact situation.
It often means something like:
- assuming this could happen
- imagining that this were possible
- if circumstances allowed it
- if this could actually be done
Examples
- If it were possible, I would live on another planet.
- If it were possible, she would change the past.
- If it were possible, I would choose a different career.
- If it were possible, we would meet every day.
- If it were possible, he would solve the problem immediately.
The important point is that “were” signals the hypothetical nature of the condition.
If It Was Possible vs. If It Were Possible: Comparison Table
| Expression | Typical meaning | Situation | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| If it was possible | A real or uncertain past possibility | Past situation | If it was possible, they probably tried. |
| If it were possible | A hypothetical or unreal possibility | Imagined situation | If it were possible, I would change it. |
| If it was possible | Whether something could actually be done | Uncertain fact | I wondered if it was possible. |
| If it were possible | Something imagined as possible | Hypothetical condition | If it were possible, I’d go with you. |
When Should You Use “If It Was Possible”?
Use “if it was possible” when the possibility belongs to a real or uncertain situation, especially one connected to the past.
For example:
“I asked whether it was possible to cancel the order.”
You are asking about an actual option. You are not imagining an impossible world.
Another example:
“If it was possible to repair the machine, the technician would have done it.”
The speaker is discussing a real situation and whether a repair was actually possible.
When Should You Use “If It Were Possible”?
Use “if it were possible” when you are imagining a situation or discussing something that is not currently a reality.
For example:
“If it were possible, I would erase every mistake I made.”
The speaker is imagining something that is not realistically available.
You can also use it for polite or tentative suggestions:
“If it were possible, could you send me the documents today?”
Here, “were” makes the request sound hypothetical and less direct.
10+ Examples of “If It Was Possible” and “If It Were Possible”
Examples with “If It Was Possible”
- If it was possible, they would have completed the work yesterday.
- I wanted to know if it was possible to change my appointment.
- She checked if it was possible to get a refund.
- If it was possible to solve the problem, the team probably would have done so.
- We discussed whether it was possible to finish before Friday.
- If it was possible, he would have contacted you earlier.
Examples with “If It Were Possible”
- If it were possible, I would visit every country in the world.
- If it were possible, she would go back and change her decision.
- If it were possible, I would help everyone.
- If it were possible, he would make the process much simpler.
- If it were possible, we would move closer to our family.
- If it were possible, I would choose a completely different path.
Notice the difference: the was examples generally examine an actual or uncertain possibility, while the were examples imagine a situation.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Thinking “were” is always wrong with “it”
Some learners assume that because it normally takes was, “if it were” must be incorrect.
That is not true.
In hypothetical constructions, were is a standard subjunctive form:
If it were possible, I would do it.
Mistake 2: Using “was” for every hypothetical situation
For formal or careful writing, this can weaken the distinction between reality and imagination.
Instead of:
If it was possible, I would travel through time.
the traditional hypothetical form is:
If it were possible, I would travel through time.
Mistake 3: Assuming “were” always means past time
In “If it were possible,” were does not simply mean that something happened in the past.
It marks a hypothetical or non-real condition.
Compare:
- It was possible yesterday. → Past fact.
- If it were possible, I would do it. → Hypothetical situation.
A Simple Memory Trick
Remember:
WAS = reality or past possibility
WERE = imagination or hypothetical possibility
Think of were as a signal that you are stepping into an imagined situation.
If it were possible, I would…
This pattern is especially useful when the condition is followed by would.
For example:
If it were possible, I would buy a house on the moon.
The situation is clearly imaginary, so were fits naturally.
American vs. British English
The distinction between “was” and “were” in hypothetical clauses exists in both American and British English.
In both varieties, “if it were possible” is the traditional subjunctive form for hypothetical situations.
American and British speakers may both use “if it was” in informal speech, particularly when the speaker does not strongly mark the condition as unreal.
For formal writing, academic English, professional communication, and careful speech, “if it were possible” is a clear choice when the meaning is hypothetical.
Similar Words and Expressions
Several related expressions can help you understand the same grammatical idea.
If It Could Be Possible
This construction is usually unnecessary because possible already expresses the idea of possibility. Depending on the sentence, “if it were possible” is more natural.
If It Were the Case
This is another formal hypothetical construction.
- If it were the case, we would need to reconsider the plan.
If I Were You
This is one of the most familiar examples of the subjunctive:
- If I were you, I would apologize.
The same grammatical principle explains “if it were possible.”
Whether It Was Possible
Use whether it was possible when you are considering a real question about possibility:
- We needed to find out whether it was possible.
This is not necessarily hypothetical.
Final Verdict
Both “if it was possible” and “if it were possible” are correct, but they usually express different meanings.
Use “if it was possible” when you are talking about whether something was actually possible in a past or real situation.
Use “if it were possible” when you are imagining a hypothetical or unreal situation.
If your sentence describes something like an imagined ability, unlikely situation, or contrary-to-fact condition, “if it were possible” is generally the clearest choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “if it were possible” grammatically correct?
Yes. “If it were possible” is grammatically correct and is the traditional subjunctive form for a hypothetical situation.
Is “if it was possible” also correct?
Yes. “If it was possible” is correct when referring to a real or uncertain possibility, especially in a past context. It can also occur in informal hypothetical English.
Which is better: “if it was possible” or “if it were possible”?
Neither is universally better. The correct choice depends on meaning. Use were for a hypothetical condition and was for a real or uncertain past possibility.
Should I say “if it were possible, I would”?
Yes. “If it were possible, I would…” is a standard pattern for expressing a hypothetical situation.
Why do we say “if it were” instead of “if it was”?
Because English traditionally uses the subjunctive were for certain hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions, including “if it were possible.”
Is “if it was possible” informal?
It can be informal when used in a hypothetical sense. However, “if it were possible” makes the hypothetical meaning clearer and is often preferred in formal writing.
Does “were” mean the situation happened in the past?
No. In “if it were possible,” were marks a hypothetical condition rather than simply indicating past time.
Remember This
- If it was possible → real, past, or uncertain possibility.
- If it were possible → hypothetical or unreal possibility.
- Were is a special subjunctive form in hypothetical clauses.
- “If it were possible, I would…” is a common and natural pattern.
- In formal writing, use were when you clearly mean a hypothetical condition.
Conclusion
The difference between “if it was possible” and “if it were possible” becomes much easier when you focus on meaning rather than simply memorizing the verb forms. Was generally points toward a real or uncertain possibility, particularly in a past context. Were, on the other hand, commonly marks a hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situation.
When you are imagining something that is not currently possible, “if it were possible” is usually the clearest choice. When you are discussing whether something was actually possible, “if it was possible” may be appropriate. Learning this distinction will also help you understand familiar patterns such as “if I were you” and other hypothetical constructions.
