虛擬條件句的從句部分如果含有were, should, 或had, 可將if省略，再把were, should或had 移到從句句首，實行倒裝。
were they here now, they could help us.
=if they were here now, they could help us.
had you come earlier, you would have met him
=if you had come earlier, you would have met him.
should it rain, the crops would be saved.
=were it to rain, the crops would be saved.
注意：
在虛擬語氣的從句中，動詞'be'的過去時態一律用"were"，不用was， 即在從句中be用were代替。
if i were you, i would go to look for him.
如果我是你，就會去找他。
if he were here, everything would be all right.
如果他在這兒，一切都會好的。
典型例題
_____ to do the work, i should do it some other day.
a. if were i b. i were c. were i d. was i
答案c. 在虛擬條件狀語中如果有were, should, had這三個詞，通常將if省略，主語提前, 變成 were, should, had +主語的形式。但要注意，在虛擬條件狀語從句中，省略連詞的倒裝形式的句首不能用動詞的縮略形式。如我們可說 were i not to do., 而不能說 weren't i to do.