IF IT WERE NOT FOR – English Grammar Profiler

In the English Grammar Profile, C2 point 125 in CLAUSES/conditional is defined as

‘If it weren’t / were not for’ + noun phrase to introduce conditions in formal contexts. past simple

For example:

And none of us would be here if it weren’t for you.

iWeb doesn’t allow a search for **** to the right even on a premium licence.

1 IF IT WEREN’T FOR 9682
2 IF IT WERE NOT FOR 4645

A collocate search in THE MOVIE CORPUS:

1 N’T 865

2 FACT 19
3 MEDDLING 17
4 ALIVE 13

5 EXIST 6
6 MESS 6
7 FAULT 5

COCA does allow for long searches:

1 IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE FACT 18

Richfield Reaper

Twilight

Trump would be a joke if it were not for the fact that he is a clear and present danger to himself,

the nation and the world.