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(1) If I was to want to divorce, what would you do?
Is this sentence correct?
(cf.) If I were to want to divorce, what would you do?
Is this sentence correct?
(cf.) If I were to want to divorce, what would you do?
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(1) If I was to want to a divorce, what would you do?
"If" almost always goes with "were" when you set up hypothetical situations.
"If I were to want a divorce..."
"If you were to want a divorce..."
"If he/she were to want a divorce..."
"If we were to want a divorce..."
"If they were to want a divorce..."
"If it were to want a divorce..."
This is one of those rules that people break all the time. Most people probably won't notice if you mix up "was" and "were". Even so, "were" is the correct choice in this case.
You could also skip the "be" verb altogether.
"If I wanted a divorce..."
"If you wanted a divorce..."
"If he/she wanted a divorce..."
"If we wanted a divorce..."
"If they wanted a divorce..."
"If it wanted a divorce..."
When you say "I want to divorce" (I = subject, want to divorce = verb phrase) you need an object for the grammar to be correct. "I want to divorce ____".
"If I were to want to divorce my spouse..."
"If you were to want to divorce your spouse..."
"If he/she were to want to divorce his/her spouse..."
"If we were to want to divorce our spouses..."
"If they were to want to divorce their spouses..."
"If it were to want to divorce its spouse..."
Again, this is a rule that gets broken a LOT. If you say "I want to divorce" and drop the object, most people will still know what you mean. It's just a good idea to know the correct way of doing things before you learn how to break the rules :P
When you say "I wanted a divorce" (I = subject, wanted = verb, a divorce = object), the thought is complete. This way, you can choose whether you want to describe the divorce further or not.
"If I wanted a divorce..." / "If I wanted a divorce from my spouse..."
"If you wanted a divorce..." / "If you wanted a divorce from your spouse..."
"If he/she wanted a divorce..." / "If he/she wanted a divorce from his/her spouse..."
"If we wanted divorces..." / "If we wanted divorces from our spouses..."
"If they wanted divorces..." / "If they wanted divorces from their spouses..."
"If it wanted a divorce..." / "If it wanted a divorce from its spouse..."
(1) If I was to want to a divorce, what will would you do?
Is the sentence correct?
(cf.) If I were me to want to divorce, what would you do?
(1) If I was to wanted to a divorce, what would you do?
OR: If I were to want a divorce, what would you do?
(1) If I was to wanted to/a divorce, what would you do?
Is this sentence correct?
Yes, it is -- grammatically. Most would use "were," though.
(cf.) If I Were I to want to ask for a divorce, what would you do?
However, I wouldn't write it that way.
If you wanted a divorce, there isn't more to say about it since the decision has been made. Had you decided you wanted a divorce, the only reason for inquiring of your spouse's reaction is to open bidding to negotiate the price of staying. That is a sad state of affairs.
If the decision has not been made, you would rather ask, "Were I to ask for a divorce, what would you say?" Asking for a divorce is not the same as wanting a divorce.
'were' and 'was' here are a form of the verb called the 'subjunctive mode' - used for things that haven't really happened but might - with other verbs besides 'to be', the subjunctive mode is made in the same way as the past tense - "If I went to the store, what would you do?" - here "I went" does not mean it happened in the past, but might happen in the future.
Because the subjunctive modes of other verbs are made this way, 'were' used as the subjunctive is giving way to 'was'.
The phrase "If I 'was' to ask for a divorce" is grammatically incorrect. The proper phrase is "If I were to ask for a divorce."
Why? The phrase is in what's known as the "subjunctive mood" and, more specifically, the "future subjunctive," which refers to some uncertain future event, and is characterized by the use of "If" at the beginning. In those cases (that is, "if" phrases referring to an uncertain future) the use of "were" is mandatory. An example would be "If I were to go . . . ."
Mandatory though it may be, you will still hear "If I was . . . ." as often, if not more often, than you would hear "If I were . . . ." That just means that most English speakers aren't familiar with the grammatical rules. I certainly was mistaken, and I've been speaking, reading, & writing English for MANY years, and have published several article is legal journals, where one might presume proper grammar!
Anyway, I need to say that "If I was . . . .' in your question is wrong; only "If I were . . . . " is proper English. Even so, if you were to say "If I was . . ." you would be perfectly understood, and anyone who would correct you would be considered rude.
(1) If I was to want a divorce, what would you do?
(cf.) If I were to want a divorce, what would you do?