The Subjunctive
This one is pretty simple. When you’re writing about a non-true situation — usually following the word if or the verb wish — the verb to be is rendered as were.
So:
* If I was were a rich man.
* I wish I was were an Oscar Mayer wiener.
If you are using if for other purposes (hypothetical situations, questions), you don’t use the subjunctive.
* The reporter asked him if he were was happy.
