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To say that if something were in my hands to or in my capability (but it's actually isn't), which is correct: If it were "to" me, I would do so and so OR If it were "for" me, I would do so and so Thanks

Laith Leo
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  • Isnt it just "if it were me"? – DialFrost Apr 18 '22 at 12:51
  • Thank you for your answer, but this is not what I meant. Example to clarify: If it were to me, I wouldn't let you go. (but I am unable to do so). – Laith Leo Apr 18 '22 at 12:53
  • or do you mean "if it weren't for me" – DialFrost Apr 18 '22 at 12:54
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    I mean to say: If it were (in my hands, in my capability), then I would do so. It is a hypothetical situation, not in the past, but in the present. – Laith Leo Apr 18 '22 at 12:57
  • Neither. It's *...if it were **up to** me [I'd do blah blah]* – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:01
  • "If it were to me" is grammatically wrong ^ Read FumbleFinger's comment – DialFrost Apr 18 '22 at 13:01
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    Note that *if it were up to me* means *if I was the person **responsible for deciding** what to do*. It *doesn't* exactly mean *if I was **capable** of doing it*. – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:03
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    Ok. Thank you both. – Laith Leo Apr 18 '22 at 13:03
  • @FumbleFingers Is it ok if i copy your comment and credit you in my answer? Laith i tried to answer your question below :) – DialFrost Apr 18 '22 at 13:07
  • It may be interesting to compare ***Is it up to you**?* (Are you the person *responsible* for doing it?) with ***Are you up to it**?* (Are you *capable* of doing it?). Also *Are you up **for** it?* (informal; Are you *willing* to do it?). – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:10
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    @DialFrost: Please do. Always! – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:11
  • @LaithLeo: Note that *in principle* a hypothetical situation in the *past* should be referenced using Past *Perfect* (because the state of being responsible must inevitably have "occurred / applied" *before* that decision, regardless of who actually *made* the decision). So *If it **had been** up to me, I would have done it differently*. But in practice many native speakers don't always bother with the Perfect for the initial verb: *If it **was** up to me, I'd have done something else.* That's especially the case if whatever causes it *not* to be up to me is still true and/or "timeless". – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:23
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    Hi! Please edit the question itself to include the explanation that you put in a comment. Comments aren't an official part of the question and can sometimes be deleted; right now, the question isn't officially clear enough to be answered. – Andy Bonner Apr 18 '22 at 17:19

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As what @FumbleFingers has said, the supposed answer is:

If it were up to me, I would do something

However, this is only if I was the person responsible for deciding what to do. It doesn't exactly mean if I was capable of doing it - FumblerFingers comment

A simpler way to put it is

I would do something if I had the capability to do so

or in even more simpler terms

I would do something if I could

If you want to put it in the perspective if you were capable of doing something ^

DialFrost
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    The simplest way of covering the "capable" (as opposed to "responsible") sense is just *I **would** if I **could**.* – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:13
  • tysm @FumbleFingers! its a lot simpler now! – DialFrost Apr 18 '22 at 13:15
  • See [Why is it "If I were you" and not "If I was you"?](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/23853/why-is-it-if-i-were-you-and-not-if-i-was-you) Strictly speaking we should all use "subjunctive" *If I **were** you...* in such contexts. But increasing numbers of native speakers don't bother, especially in casual conversational contexts, where *If I **was** you [I'd say it like this]* is "unexceptional" to all but the most extreme pedants. – FumbleFingers Apr 18 '22 at 13:40