0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Conditional

In the wonder woman film she said: "I bet you would have acted differently, if I were a man".
Why it's not "If I had been a man"?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Thanks! We often substitute the past for the past perfect when the meaning is clear. This is particularly true with be and have in conditional statements.

— CalifJim

  • Thanks!
  • We often substitute the past for the past perfect when the meaning is clear.
  • This is particularly true with be and have in conditional statements.
  • CJ
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Anonymous In the wonder woman film she said: "I bet you would have acted differently, if I were a man".Why it's not "If I had been a man"?Thanks!
We often substitute the past for the past perfect when the meaning is clear. This is particularly true with be and have in conditional statements.

CJ
0
0
Thanks CJ,
Will it sound odd, if I use the past perfect in such a sentence?
0
0
AnonymousThanks CJ,Will it sound odd, if I use the past perfect in such a sentence?
That would be "I bet you would have acted differently, if I had been a man". No, not really odd.

That sentence suggests to me that the incident referred to is in the fairly distant past. (I don't know why exactly.)


CJ
0

Related Questions