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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Conditional

Hi,

What's the difference between these two conditionals?

1. If you didn't follow as I say, I would call the police.

2. If you don't follow as I say, I would call the police.

Appreciate if someone could explain on this, thank you.

Regards,

Jeeva
  

Top answer

I think the first is wrong, because didn't is past and the rest of the sentence is not. But I'm not shure.

— Saviola

  • I think the first is wrong, because didn't is past and the rest of the sentence is not.
  • But I'm not shure.
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6 Answers
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I think the first is wrong, because didn't is past and the rest of the sentence is not. But I'm not shure.
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Neither is natural.

If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police.

If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.
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Grammar Geek
Neither is natural.

If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police.

If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.
My inclination is to use two pluperfects. "If you hadn't done as I had told you......." Does this sound ok to other grammar geeks?
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Yes, I think that's also a good version.

But "If you didn't do it, no one would have done it." is also an okay construction, so the "If you didn't" on its face is okay, don't you think?

I shouldn't try to do this when I have a fever. I'm probably writing gibberish.
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Philip
Grammar GeekNeither is natural.

If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police.

If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.
M
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Grammar GeekNeither is natural.

If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police.

If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.
I agree with the 2nd for the present. Taking into account the emergency of the situation, I "would call" is too weak.

However, I don't quite agree w
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