There are different ways to say "if I were you" in Spanish.
Learn how to say "if I were you" in Spanish
In Spanish, to express "if I were you" we normally use one of the following structures:
- Si yo fuera tú...
- Yo que tú...
- Yo de ti...
Si yo fuera tú translates literally as "if I were you". It uses the verb ser in El Pretérito Imperfecto Subjuntivo. The other two structures that do not include a verb are more idiomatic and are used in more colloquial contexts.
They all mean the same and are used in hypothetical sentences followed by a clause using El Condicional Simple or El Condicional Perfecto.
Here are some examples:
Each construction is a set phrase, be careful not to mix them up. For example, yo que tú and yo de ti do not start with "si" (if):
- Si yo de ti no iría.
- Yo que ti no iría.
- Yo de tú no iría.
Bear in mind that this type of hypothetical sentence, also accepts El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo (instead of El Condicional Perfecto). For example:
There are similar phrases with the same meaning that can also be used, for example:
- Si yo estuviera en tu lugar/en tu situación...
- Si dependiera de mí...
See also:
- Using the Spanish imperfect subjunctive in hypothetical clauses introduced by si followed by the Spanish conditional simple
- Using the pluperfect subjunctive in hypothetical clauses (si) followed by the perfect conditional/ the pluperfect subjunctive
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Similar idiomatic expressions?
Are there other similar idiomatic expressions or must one use the conventional gramatical constructs? For example:
If you were me... (Tú que yo?)
If I were him... (Yo que él?)
If he were you... (Él que tu?)
etc.
Hola Mark
The "yo que..." structure doesn't really work for when the subject is a different one to "I", so, for example to say "If you were me, what would you do?" you can't say "Tú que yo ¿qué harías?". For this you'd need the more literal "Si tú fueras yo, ¿qué harías?" or also "Si tú estuvieras en mi lugar, ¿qué harías?". The same goes for "If he were you...".
Saludos
Similar idiomatic expressions?
Are there other similar idiomatic expressions or must one use the conventional gramatical constructs? For example:
If you were me... (Tú que yo?)
If I were him... (Yo que él?)
If he were you... (Él que tu?)
etc.
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Subjunctive vs indicative
Do I understand correctly that both tenses are possible? If so, is there a difference in meaning or are they interchangeable?
Hola Cinzia
Yes, both tenses are correct and interchangeable using these structure:
Yo de ti hubiera aceptado su oferta.
If I were you I'd have accepted their offer.
Yo de ti habría aceptado su oferta.
If I were you I'd have accepted their offer.
There is no difference in meaning and no specific context to use one or the other; it's a question of preference to the speaker.
Saludos
Inma
Subjunctive vs indicative
Do I understand correctly that both tenses are possible? If so, is there a difference in meaning or are they interchangeable?
Sign in to submit your answer
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