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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Linguistics Studies
Clarity in counterfactuals
In which one is it clearest that the person didn't take the trip?
Martin was to go on a trip to Mexico.
Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico.
Martin was to go on a trip to Mexico.
Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico.
Top answer
The second; in the first, he may still go (in the future relative to the past time indicated).
- The second; in the first, he may still go (in the future relative to the past time indicated).
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22 Answers
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The second; in the first, he may still go (in the future relative to the past time indicated).
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Martin was to go on a trip to Mexico. [was scheduled/planned to go sometime starting in the past, after the time when this was considered, at the time of "was," really, ... not clear what has happened]
Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico. [was scheduled to go by the time, before the time when this was considered, the time of "
Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico. [was scheduled to go by the time, before the time when this was considered, the time of "
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Yet:
MrP
"Did you read about that plane crash in Mexico?"
"Mexico? Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico. Maybe I should call his wife and check that everything's okay."
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AnonymousIn which one is it clearest that the person didn't take the trip?By the way, welcome to English Forums, Anon!
Martin was to go on a trip to Mexico.
Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico.
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MrP
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MrPedanticYet:Doesn't sound right. To me, he didn't go.MrP
"Did you read about that plane crash in Mexico?"
"Mexico? Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico. Maybe I should call his wife and check that everything's okay."
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MilkyMrP's example is a good one. TheMrPedanticYet:Doesn't sound right. To me, he didn't go.MrP
"Did you read about that plane crash in Mexico?"
"Mexico? Martin was to have gone on a trip to Mexico. Maybe I should call his wife and check that everything's okay."
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Doesn't sound right.It's true that "was/were to have X" often precedes a "but" clause. But cf.
_______________
Questions linger in missing person's case
Janie Griffith
Shreveport
I read with interest the names and details of missing persons listed in The Times on Sept. 3 for this area of Louisiana. I can imagine not
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<There was a Shreveport woman, not listed, whom I've never forgotten about, although I no longer recall her name. But I do remember details of her disappearance as reported by her husband to the police in the month of October, I'd say less than 20 years ago. She came from Topeka, Kan., two years before and was working in a doctor's facility. What her husband told police was that she was to h
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<...using the counterfactual subjectively...>
Possibly; but we can also read it as "Martin was supposed to go on a trip to Mexico", which is inconclusive.
As for the husband's enquiries and assumptions, we can always of course speculate; but the fact that speculation is possible demonstrates that there too the phrase is inconclusive.
All the passage tells us is th
Possibly; but we can also read it as "Martin was supposed to go on a trip to Mexico", which is inconclusive.
As for the husband's enquiries and assumptions, we can always of course speculate; but the fact that speculation is possible demonstrates that there too the phrase is inconclusive.
All the passage tells us is th
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