Learn English – Use “him” or “her” in this sentence about a hypothetical gender switch

conditional-constructionsgenderpersonal-pronounspronouns

What should I use in this sentence?

If he were a girl, I would have kissed him/her.

Should I refer to the real gender of the person or the one I'm assuming the person to be and why?

Edit : Recent developments on this question has influenced me to start a bounty on the question. It's really confusing me as the answers are contradicting but still have credible sources to support them.

Best Answer

In my personal opinion, you should use 'him' and here's why:

"If I were a cup, where would I hide?"

Now, the subject is thinking of a hypothetical situation where he is a cup. Now, if that sentence was spoken from the perspective of the cup, then it would be:

"If I were a cup, where would it hide?"

Not that the gender has to do anything with an animate and inanimate object, but I think it works out in the same way as this example.

Also, the stress is on the improbability of the situation. "If he were...", but he is not a 'she' at the point of reference. So the subject is still a 'he', so you should refer the subject as a "him".

Note: This may not be a perfect explanation, but for me, the comparison works.

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