Were or Was?

[thetombliboo]

Please help

If I were chosen for this position
If I was chosen for this position

Which one is correct please?
Although perhaps I don't deserve to be chosen as I seem unable to compose a short covering letter 🙃

[Howmanysleepsnow]

Was.
Its easier to see without the excess words:
I were chosen
I was chosen

[SpiderVersed]

If I were
That's the grammatically correct answer. I remember my English teacher doing his nut over Midge Ure's If I Was

[SpiderVersed]

@Howmanysleepsnow

Was.
Its easier to see without the excess words:
I were chosen
I was chosen

IF isn't an excess word, it's what makes it a conditional tense.

[MaxandMeg]

If I were....

If is a conditional and therefore takes the subjunctive, which in English is 'were'.

[BlackbirdsSinging]

Were

[BrettAndersonscheekbones]

If I were. It's the subjunctive = hypothetical situation.

[Turmerictolly]

Were

[AgentProvocateur]

If I were fortunate enough to be etc etc

[TranquilityofSolitude]

'Were' is correct. It's a conditional.

[glamourousindierockandroll]

I think it's 'were' but I can't explain why.

"Were I to be chosen for this position..."

[fortifiedwithtea]

Were.

you are talking about a position you may potentially hold in the future

[DramaAlpaca]

In this context 'were' is correct.

[thetombliboo]

Thank you all!

Another one,

How would you start a covering letter without knowing the name of the person hiring to address them.
It's for the practice manager ?

[Timeforanothername]

Were. It's subjunctive. But I think was is fast becoming the norm.

[zurala]

Dear practice manager