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Samuraibabes Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Adjective clauses in unreal conditional.
Hello everyone.
I've been thinking for a while about whether a simple or past tense would work to describe the adjective clause found in unreal conditional. Example :
"I would've eaten his food that everyone knew he liked."
But for a second thought, I had a feeling that the sentence below could also work for the case,
"I would've eaten his food that everyone knows he likes."
So my question is which one of the two is correct ? should we use simple tense to describe the form's adjective clause or it's best we use past tense ? Please help.
An answer would be nice.
I've been thinking for a while about whether a simple or past tense would work to describe the adjective clause found in unreal conditional. Example :
"I would've eaten his food that everyone knew he liked."
But for a second thought, I had a feeling that the sentence below could also work for the case,
"I would've eaten his food that everyone knows he likes."
So my question is which one of the two is correct ? should we use simple tense to describe the form's adjective clause or it's best we use past tense ? Please help.
An answer would be nice.
Top answer
If he still likes the food, and you are talking about a relatively recent event, then you can use the present tense. If you are talking about a more distant historical event then use the past tense. However, the combination of modifiers "his" and "that everyone knew he liked / knows he likes" is awkward.
- If he still likes the food, and you are talking about a relatively recent event, then you can use the present tense.
- If you are talking about a more distant historical event then use the past tense.
- However, the combination of modifiers "his" and "that everyone knew he liked / knows he likes" is awkward.
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3 Answers
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If he still likes the food, and you are talking about a relatively recent event, then you can use the present tense. If you are talking about a more distant historical event then use the past tense. However, the combination of modifiers "his" and "that everyone knew he liked / knows he likes" is awkward.
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I understand now. I know the sentence is awkward because I had nothing else to say just to get what I'd been trying to know. But could you tell me which part of it that makes it sound awkward so I will be able to become better next time ?
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samuraibabesBut could you tell me which part of it that makes it sound awkwardI explained in my first reply why it is awkward.
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