he opened his lips as if he were to speak.1】如果这是虚拟语气的话,那这句话后半句的时态不是应该改为过去完成时吗?2】如果这部是虚拟语气,那么为什么这里用了were而不是was呢?个人认为这不是虚拟

Question

he opened his lips as if he were to speak.
1】如果这是虚拟语气的话,那这句话后半句的时态不是应该改为过去完成时吗?
2】如果这部是虚拟语气,那么为什么这里用了were而不是was呢?
个人认为这不是虚拟语气,那么要怎么理解【2】呢?

Answer 1

首先,这就是真唱的虚拟语气形式.
在虚拟结构中,无论主语是第几人称,be 动词一般一律用were.只是,在口语或非正式文体中,有时会用was代替were.例如：
How I wish I were a bird!
If I were you,I would try my best to make my dream come true.
If he were wise enough,he would take our advice.
其次,你所给的句子,【He opened his lips as if he were to speak.】,这里面虚拟语气用法正确.
句意：他当时张开口/开启嘴唇,好像要讲话/似乎准备说话.
按照语义,【准备说话】应该是【开启嘴唇】后的动作,而不应该在这个动作之前发生,因此,不能用完成式.