A question of grammar.

[Anarasha]

I will put this here as it is far less likely to bother someone here than in General or anywhere else.
I have been looking up some grammar rules online about was and were, but I can't seem to get it right as every site I find has contradicting information.
I am thinking of a sentence in particular:
"What if it were you?" or "What if it was you?"
If I am adressing an unkown individual or group of people, which one of those would be the correct usage?

[Still Jack]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=What+if+it+were...+it+was+you%3F

First link.

[Anarasha]

I did that, but everything contradicted each other really. Some people say that you do this, it's about this, it's about that, you say that and I can't make anything from it, so I thought I would ask some people who are superior to me in the english language for help.

Edit: Oh. I see, thanks. I tried just about every other way to twist it.

[Stormtrooper of Death]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PJzMHObabo

I had to post this, I love Monte Python!

[Anarasha]

Haha xD That is awesome

[Drake Dun]

Coming to this late, but...

Short version: "Were" is traditional, but "was" is common enough by now that it can be considered correct usage.

Long version: Look up "subjunctive mood" on Wikipedia and Google.

[Stormtrooper of Death]

Thanks Anarasha, love that sketch.

[Catch]

I believe it is, "What if it was you?" Seems as though, "What if it were you," addresses an individual and the message is personalized. The bigger issue is actually totally different than what you are thinking though. Saying, “Was,” refers to an event that already happened. Saying, “Were,” is implies the event is hypothetical, though it could occur in the future.

Yah, I actually checked the grammar before posting this time. Seemed like an appropriate action.

[Anarasha]

The actual use was an attempt at an anti violence poster on my part. It can be seen here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...7&id=685938575