2nd conditional (insteas of third one) to express an unreal situation in the past

Question

DAD: Why didn't she let us know?
MOTHER: Fred said she wanted to surprise us.
...
MOTHER: Now why didn't she let me know she was coming? She knows I like to have things ready.
DAD: If she let you know, you'd get all worked up about everything... cooking cleaning ... Tom's hair...
MOTHER: But she should have called. Suppose we'd been away?
DAD: In the middle of the week? With the kids in school and me at work? Not likely!
MOTHER: Just the same, I wish I'd known.

"Never On Wednesday" by Richard A. Via

Is the sentence correct?

Thank you in advance.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi Teddy;

I assume you mean this sentence:
DAD: If she let you know, you'd get all worked up about everything... cooking cleaning ... Tom's hair...

Fo this specific incident, it should have been: If she had let you know, you would have gotten all worked up about everything

But I think dad is referring to situations in general; every time Fred comes, mother gets all worked up. It is her habitual reaction. Under that assumption, the sentence is OK.

RandomGuy · Answer

The second conditional is not appropriate here. It should be the third.

TeddyFromRussia · Answer

Thank you for the answers.
Yes, I meant that sentence. I forgot to format it in bold.

Aspara Gus, would you explain your answer?

Now we have 2 opposite answers

.

RandomGuy · Answer

TeddyFromRussiaAspara Gus, would you explain your answer?

The second conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the present or future. Dad is clearly describing an unreal situation in the past, which calls for the third conditional.

TeddyFromRussiaNow we have 2 opposite answers.

It happens.

TeddyFromRussia · Answer

Aspara Gu, thank you so much. Now I have no doubts.

2nd conditional (insteas of third one) to express an unreal situation in the past

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions