If I was rich, I would buy you anything you wanted.
上句中的 was 是否应当改为 were?
在正式语体里,这里应当用 were。但是,我们在教学或考试中切不要把这里的 was 看作是错误,因为在不大正式的语体里,人们常常使用 was 来代替 were。下面是我们收集到的一些正面例句:
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If I were [was] rich, I would buy anything you wanted. (CGEL) 如果我有钱的话, 我会给你买你所需要的一切。
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If she was here, she would speak on my behalf. (CGEL) 如果她在这儿的话, 她会代表我讲话的。
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If I were (was) to ask, would you help me? (LEG) 如果我提出请求,你会帮助我吗?
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If it was to rain, the ropes would snap. They're far too tight. (CGEL) 如果下雨, 绳子就会断。绳子系得太紧了。
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If he was my friend, he would speak for my case. (Leech) 如果他是我的朋友的话，他就会为我的案件说话。
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And if I wasn't a Senator, I certainly would be trying to influence those who were. (Hillary, Living History) 假使我不是参议员，我一定会设法影响参议院里的这些人。（希拉里，《亲历历史》）
Leech 说, 现在经常(虽然不是通常)用 was 来代替 were。但是, 在 if I were you, as it were, if it were not for 等结构中, were 是不能用 was 来代替的。
应当指出，在现代英语里，人们不仅仅在口语里用 was 来代替 were，而且在书面语里也常常如此。例如，我们在美国的一本物理教科书中就发现了许多这种用法的实例。