A type III conditional expressing unrealized future in the past?
“This is monstrous,” said Lady Nym. “I would not have believed it, not of a Kingsguard knight.”
“They are sworn to obey, just as my captain is,” the prince said. “I had my doubts as well, but you all saw how Ser Balon balked when I suggested that we go by sea. A ship would have disturbed all the queen’s arrangements.” (A Dance with Dragons, novel)
Context: Sand Snakes were bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn, and Prince Doran. Tyene, Obara and Lady Nym were the three of Sand Snakes. Prince Oberyn was Doran’s brother. Prince Doran just told them that Queen Cersei asked Ser Balon, who was a Kingsuard Knight, to escort her daughter and Prince Doran’s son to the capital. If they go overland, they will be attacked by barbarians and the son would die. This is a trap set up by the Queen. But if they go by sea, the Queen’s scheme to murder the son won’t be successful.
Hi. I think, by saying “A ship would have disturbed all the queen’s arrangements.”, Doran was suggesting that he had already sent his son away on a ship, relative to the time when the conversation took place — the author is trying to tell us that information indirectly. But when Doran talked to Ser Balon about his suggestion of sending his son on a ship, Doran pretended that the plan had not been carried out (but instead, the plan had already been carried out). So the example is an unrealized future in the past. Does it make sense?
Previously asked here: https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/would-not-have.3500861/#post-18307116
Thank you.
Top answer
I read it like this: A ship would have disturbed all the queen's arrangements [if we went by sea] where the if -clause is implied from the context. I see it as a mixed conditional. It describes an unreal situation in the if -clause at the time of speaking and its probable but unreal result in the main clause.
- I read it like this: A ship would have disturbed all the queen's arrangements [if we went by sea] where the if -clause is implied from the context.
- I see it as a mixed conditional.
- It describes an unreal situation in the if -clause at the time of speaking and its probable but unreal result in the main clause.
- I don't see it as the future-in-the-past expression.
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- I read it like this: A ship would have disturbed all the queen's arrangements [if we went by sea] where the if-clause is implied from the context. I see it as a mixed conditional. It describes an unreal situation in the if-clause at the time of speaking and its probable but unreal result in the main clause. I don't see it as the future-in-the-past expression.
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