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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
About correct usage of "If~perfect progressive"
Hello.
I am kind of confused what to do.
The case is, I am imagining myself being Napoleon by his time.
This is what I want to say:
"If I were Napoleon, I would have not ..."
Then I kind of got into an arguement with my teacher who does not know what "flashback" is.
(It really feels weird learning from my teacher because I used to be an honors-English student in America, and apparently I am in Asia getting taught by such teacher)
She comes up with logics that I don't understand: since I am assuming to be in the past time, I always have to use "had been Napoleon".
I really was sure about the usage of "If~was/were" and now I feel like my knowledge being puzzled.
I know that "If I had been Napoleon" is logically correct and a right grammar usage.
But truthfully I never saw a name of a man or a place right in front of "had been".
There should be something that links to such specific nouns, as "in, from...", I thought.
Which one sounds better and which one sounds more awkward?
"had been Nap". or "were Nap."?
I am kind of confused what to do.
The case is, I am imagining myself being Napoleon by his time.
This is what I want to say:
"If I were Napoleon, I would have not ..."
Then I kind of got into an arguement with my teacher who does not know what "flashback" is.
(It really feels weird learning from my teacher because I used to be an honors-English student in America, and apparently I am in Asia getting taught by such teacher)
She comes up with logics that I don't understand: since I am assuming to be in the past time, I always have to use "had been Napoleon".
I really was sure about the usage of "If~was/were" and now I feel like my knowledge being puzzled.
I know that "If I had been Napoleon" is logically correct and a right grammar usage.
But truthfully I never saw a name of a man or a place right in front of "had been".
There should be something that links to such specific nouns, as "in, from...", I thought.
Which one sounds better and which one sounds more awkward?
"had been Nap". or "were Nap."?
Top answer
The simple past often substitutes for the past perfect. The same can work for were instead of had been in if clauses. I find both versions acceptable, though had been is, as you say, "more correct" because you're talking about the past, and I think I would choose had been in this case.
- The simple past often substitutes for the past perfect.
- The same can work for were instead of had been in if clauses.
- I find both versions acceptable, though had been is, as you say, "more correct" because you're talking about the past, and I think I would choose had been in this case.
- ".
- CJ
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2 Answers
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The simple past often substitutes for the past perfect.
The same can work for were instead of had been in if clauses.
I find both versions acceptable, though had been is, as you say, "more correct" because you're talking about the past, and I think I would choose had been in this case.
Also note that it's "would not have ...", not "wou
The same can work for were instead of had been in if clauses.
I find both versions acceptable, though had been is, as you say, "more correct" because you're talking about the past, and I think I would choose had been in this case.
Also note that it's "would not have ...", not "wou
00
Hi,
Listen to your teacher!
Here's the general idea.
Talking about a hypothetic
Listen to your teacher!
Here's the general idea.
Talking about a hypothetic
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