Are these sentences correct?

Question

A. The elevator is not available in this building but it would have been nice.B. If he had wanted,he could have left the seat for you but he didn't,instead he was telling you to hold on the door.

Grammarfreak · Accepted Answer

tenjing A. The elevator is not available in this building but it would have been nice.B. If he had wanted,he could have left the seat for you but he didn't,instead he was telling you to hold on the door.

# 1 has semantic issues. We usually refer to elevator being out of order, or not in operation when it is out of commission. I supposed " not available " is marginally ok in this context. The red part seems to be incomplete as the " would-clause " typically requires an " if -clause" to complete the meaning. To improve the sentence, I would write: The elevator is out of order / not available. It would have been nice if it weren't (so that I wouldn't have to climb 20 flights of stairs! )

# 2 is a type 3 conditional sentence which is used to describe counter-factual scenarios. By the sheer nature of type 3 condition, there is no need to include " but he didn't " because the meaning is self-expressed already.
Revised: He could have saved you a seat if he had wanted to, but he told you to hold on instead
[ counter-factual ] [ factual ]

Tenjing · Answer

The first sentence could be like,if the elevator were available it would be nice; we wouldn't have to climb so many flights of stairs.this conversation happened when Jack was bringing his friend to his room and Jack's friend was telling this to Jack. (Suppose)

Grammarfreak · Answer

tenjingif the elevator were available

That's my point exactly. But the If- clause was missing and you need that in your sentence.

Fivejedjon · Answer

grammarfreak. But the If- clause was missing and you need that in your sentence.

In conversation, we not infrequently omit the if- clause if the idea is clear from the context.

A. Sorry Jack couldn't come. He had to deal with a crisis at the office.
B: Oh what a pity. Mary would have loved to meet him.

Tenjing · Answer

My question is, which one is correct 'it would be nice' or 'it would have been nice'. Here, Jack is bringng his friend his home and Jack's friend says to Jack(while climbing the ladders)  that it would be nice if the elevator were available. Is this sentences correct? ?????

Grammarfreak · Answer

fivejedjon
With due respect, are you suggesting the original sentence was deemed well ~~composed and understood clearly without the if~~ clause as written?
The elevator is not available in this building but it would have been nice

Grammarfreak · Answer

fivejedjonIn conversation, we not infrequently omit the if- clause if the idea is clear from the context.A. Sorry Jack couldn't come. He had to deal with a crisis at the office.B: Oh what a pity. Mary would have loved to meet him.

I absolutely whole-heartedly agree with your example because, as you said, the context is clear.

Tenjing · Answer

If the elevator had been available,it would have been nice.

Grammarfreak · Answer

tenjing If the elevator had been available,it would have been nice.

Yes! Just a note for your information, in many situations, if clause - can be inverted with the "would-clause".
In this case: It would have been nice if the elevator had been available. It all depends on what transpired in the conversation.
Example: I would have been enjoying the Waikiki sun by now had my flight not been cancelled (due to the weather problem)

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