How do you change "If I were rich, I would travel the world" to the subjunctive mood?

The correct transformation to the subjunctive mood is achieved with the phrase "Were I rich, I would travel the world." This construction employs an inversion that is typical of the subjunctive mood, creating a more formal and literary tone. The use of "were" for all subjects in hypothetical situations emphasizes the unreality of the condition, which is a hallmark of the subjunctive.

In this case, starting the clause with "Were" is another way to present the condition without losing its hypothetical nature. It maintains the original meaning of dreaming or wishing for a different reality, consistent with the intent of the sentence.

The other possibilities introduce changes that either adjust the meaning or structure inappropriately. For instance, the first choice incorporates "to be," which shifts the statement away from the existing subjunctive mood. The third choice "If I was rich" improperly uses "was," which is acceptable in indicative but not in subjunctive contexts, indicating a real situation rather than a hypothetical one. Lastly, the fourth option "If I had been rich" changes the tense to past perfect, implying a situation that cannot be altered, thus losing the forward-looking, hypothetical aspect of the original statement.