was VS were

2014-08-28 6:27 pm
聽講 if only 後面可以用was 或 were,如果係真,我想問下面四種講法係咪都可以接受:

1. If only it was not so expensive.
2. If only it were not so expensive.
3. If only they was not so expensive.
4. If only they were not so expensive.

回答 (3)

2014-08-28 7:38 pm
✔ 最佳答案
1,2,4都正確。
或者先講一個example:
I wish I were a bird. 意思是:我希望我是一隻雀,但事實我不是一隻雀,喻意這是不可能發生的。所以用I were。
你的句子2就是類似這情況, If only it were not so expensive. 意思是:如果只是它不是那么贵,但事實它是貴的。喻意這是不可能發生的。
句子1同4的意思是:如果只是它(們)不是那么贵,但沒有說明它(們)事實是貴,還是不貴。喻意這是可能發生的,只是視乎它(們)的價錢。

2014-08-28 13:13:36 補充:
謝Jenkin 糾正,我是混淆了if only 同 only if.
查Cambridge Dictionary:
if only 喻意這是不可能發生的,同wish,但更強烈。
if only + past verb forms (to talk about a wish for the present). 所以句子1,2,4都可以,但2是more formal。
2014-08-28 7:52 pm
if only...後所講的都不是真實的假設,而是想望或只是幻想的假設,所以無論是I/you/he/she/it/they全都用were.
2014-08-28 6:36 pm
I, THEY , WE, WHO用WERE, HE, SHE, IT用WAS。


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