were ⁴

在虚拟条件句中,过去时形式可以用来指现在时间,也可以用来指将来时间,过去时形式究竟是指现在时间还是指将来时间,可以根据语言线索以及非语言线索来判定。

1. If we weren't living in the 20th century, I would think you were a sorcerer. (指现在) 我们如果不是生活在20世纪的话，我会认为你是一个巫师。

2. If she were alive today she would not be able to air her views on her favourite topic of conversation: domestic servants. (NCE, Book 3, p.122) (指现在) 假如她仍在人间，她无法再对“佣人”这个喜爱的话题发表高见了。

3. If he found a patient listener, he would pour out his troubles. (CGEL) (指现在) 假如他找到一个耐心的听众的话,他就会把他所有的困难都倾吐出来的。

4. If she tried harder next time, she would pass the examination. (CGEL) (指将来) 如果她下次再努力一些, 她会通过考试的。

当然,为了在虚拟条件句中表示将来时间,也可以使用 should + 动词原形和 were to + 动词原形这两种结构。

If it should rain/Were it to rain tomorrow, I wouldn't go. 假如明天下雨，我就不去了。were/was to do

按照规定语法学家的规定和标准答案，这里只能选A，而绝不能选B。然而，许多现代英语学者都认为在这种句型里可以使用was。例如，R.Quirk等在CGEL中就多处举过这样的例子：

If she $\$left\{\begin{array}{l}were\\was\end{array}\right\} to do something like that... 要是她将做出这样的事情……

2. If it $\$left\{\begin{array}{l} was\\ were\end{array}\right\} to rain, we should get wet. 要是下雨的话, 我们就会淋湿了。

另外,我们在科技英语中经常读到 if it was to... 的用法。由此看来,在英语考试中不应再把 if he was to... 判为错误。