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Icadia Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Backshift in sub clauses?

A fact : I met jane first, and met you later, and I fell in love with jane.

conditional sentences

1. If I had met you first before jane, I would have fallen in love with you.
2. If I had met you first before meeting jane, I would have fallen in love with you.
3. If I had met you first before I met you. I would have feel in love with you.
4. If I had met you first before I had met you. I would have fallen in love with you.

There are four sentences expression expressing an unreal situation in the past.
I guess No1 and No2 is right sentences, But I am not sure of No3 and No4.

The main focus of my question is probably about backshit in sub clauses.

Could you tell me if both, either, or neither of no3 and no4 is right?
I am waiting for your answers. thanks for reading.
  

Top answer

1. If I had met you first before jane, I would have fallen in love with you. I would not use this version.

— CalifJim

  • 1.
  • If I had met you first before jane, I would have fallen in love with you.
  • I would not use this version.
  • It's ambiguous between "before I met Jane" and "before Jane met you".
  • Capitalize J ane .
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2 Answers
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1. If I had met you first before jane, I would have fallen in love with you. I would not use this version. It's ambiguous between "before I met Jane" and "before Jane met you".

Capitalize Jane.

2. If I had met you first before meeting
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