一般文法书说(或多数考试题目要求),只有下列结构才算正确﹕
I wish I were﹔I wish he were,例句则有﹕
I wish I were a billionaire.
但愿我是个亿万富豪。
不过,西人亦说﹕
I wish I was a billionaire.
另外,Jack London在其小说Martin Eden中写道﹕
He wished Ruth was there to share in the joy.
Jack London无理由写错。若仍不信,只好搬出字典来﹕
牛津高阶英汉双解词典》第六版说﹕
[V (that)] I wish I were taller. 我要是个子高一些就好了。◇ (BrE also) I wish
I was taller.
陆谷孙《英汉大词典》则说﹕
[表示不能实现或与现实相悖的愿望] 但愿﹕I ~ I were (或was) a bird. 我愿自已是
只鸟。
至于原因,牛津字典说I wish I were...结构是英式英文的一种选择,但亦有学者称其属
spoken English。
所引美国作家Jack London的句子,在书中不属对话,即非spoken English,那么,他到底
是用哪种英文写作的,英式还是美式﹖
我们不必深究,明白I wish I was...结构不算错即可。