If I <had been> <were> you

[Russulae 🍄🍄🍄]

• If I <had been> <were> you, I I wouldn't have broken the chainsaw stupidly by throwing it away after having seen a beaver in the tree.🌳
• my presumption is "If I'd been you" implies that I'm certain of what I would have done the past(I don't know what I'll do if it happens anew), whereas "I were you" means that if the situation happens again, I won't brake it by comparison with how you did.
What do you think ?

 

[The Newt]

There's no difference in terms of the situation the two forms describe. In American English we probably would say "If I were you," although it could be argued that "If I had been you" is more correct.

 

[dojibear]

I'd use "if I had been you" about a past situation you were in, and what I would have done in that situation.

I'd use "if I were you" about a present/future situation, and what I recommend that you do.

 

[The Newt]

I'd use "if I had been you" about a past situation you were in, and what I would have done in that situation.

I'd use "if I were you" about a present/future situation, and what I recommend that you do.

Yes, we normally expect "If I were you..." to introduce a piece of advice about how to deal with a current situation.

 

[velisarius]

Talking about an incident in the past, I'd use "If it had been me..." (if I had been in that situation...).