為什麼這裡要用過去式 wanted？講成 if you want to 不是比較自然嗎？
母語人士的回答
Rebecca
很好的問題！If you wanted to 及 If you want to 在語意上有點不一樣。want 聽起來比較果斷，而用 wanted 能讓語氣柔和一點。If you wanted to 屬於「第二類條件句」，用了 if 及過去式的動詞，有暗示 would、could 的意思；意味著不太可能發生的事情。因此，wanted 聽起來不會像 want 那麼果斷、認為醫生「的確」想跟自己共進晚餐。 例句: If I were rich, I would buy us a house. => type two conditional (如果我很有錢的話，會幫我們買間房子。=> 第二類條件句) 例句: If I wanted to go swimming, I would. But I don't want to swim today. (如果我想游泳的話，我會去游泳。但我今天不想游泳。) 例句: If I want to go swimming, I will. => assertive tone (我想游泳的話，就會去游泳。=> 果斷的語氣) 例句: If she wanted to go out tonight, we could go to the restaurant nearby. => unclear if she wants to (如果她今晚想出去的話，我們可以去附近的餐應。=> 不確定女方是否想出去) = If she wants to go out tonight, we could go to the restaurant nearby. => likely situation if she does want to (她今晚想出去的話，我們可以去附近的餐應。=> 形容女方確實想出去的話，會發生的情況)
