| 词组 | was |
| 释义 | 严格地说，在虚拟过去式里该用 were。例如：If he were ten years older, he would understand it better. 和 I wish I were ten years younger. 但假使那主语是单数，现在（尤其在口语里）往往用 was。例如：If he was ten years older, he would understand it better. 和 I wish I wasten years younger. 下面几点该注意： （1）在英国只说 if I were you，在美国往往说 if I was you。 （2）as it were 里的 were 不可改作 was。as it was 和 as it were 意思不同，参见 as 25 （3）If he were ten years older, he would understand it better 里的 were 可以改作 was，但Were he ten years older, he would understand it better 里的 Were 不可改作 Was。 （4）否定词 wasn't 比 weren't 普通。 （5）if...were to...（不定式）着重在“设想”，if...was to...（不定式）着重在“预定”。例如： If she were to call, tell her to wait. If she was to be advised, it should be done with tact. （6）关于 as if 和 as though 后面的用 were 或 was，参见 as 18 （7）下面两句里的 was 是陈述过去式，不是虚拟过去式，当然不可改作 were： He used to wait for me if I was not at home when he called. If he was there that evening, I did not see him. （8）下面两句里的 was 都用在属于过去时态的间接疑问句里，不该改作 were。英美人也有用 were 的，但现在似乎比从前少： He asked her whether she was aware of it. She wondered if I was not talking nonsense. （9）下面两句里的 was 是为了时态的呼应而用的，不可改作 were： He would like to know that his son was likely to be elected. If I could drive a car, I should feel that I was doing something great. 事实上第一句的 was 改作 is 普通些，第二句的 was 改作 am 普通些。 |
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