Conditional form

Question

Dear All,Please see the following sentences:1) If I had known this, I would not have emailed you.2) If I knew this, I would not have emailed you.I think the first sentence is the third conditional, and I have seen this in all grammar books.But, I have no idea about the second sentence. Native speakers use this form a lot.What kind of conditional is the second sentence?If it is a correct form of conditional, what is the difference between sentence number 1 and 2?Many thanks and happy Easter in advance!Best regards,Alex

Regards · Accepted Answer

Hi,

extremedeveloperIf I had known this, I would not have emailed you.

Yes, this is a third conditional sentence.

It follows this pattern:

The iƒ-clause: iƒ + subject + past perfect verb -- If I had known this

The main clause: subject + would (not) have + past participle -- I wouldn't have emailed you

If I had known this, I wouldn't have emailed you -- But I didn't know this, so I emailed you. This is a regret.

You are speaking of an unreal situation in the past.

extremedeveloperIf I knew this, I would not have emailed you.

This is a mixed conditional.

It follows this pattern:

The iƒ-clause: iƒ + subject + past simple verb -- If I knew this

The main clause: subject + would (not) have + past participle -- I wouldn't have emailed you

If I knew this, I wouldn't have emailed you -- But I don't know this, and that is why I emailed you anyway.

The first part of the sentence refers to the present; the second part refers to the past.

To my mind, mixed conditionals are rather confusing. Avoid using them whenever you're unsure of what their

purpose is. I also suggest that you search the forum for further examples of how mixed conditionas are used

correctly in sentences.

Regards

Terryxpress · Answer

If I knew this, I would not have emailed you.

This is not so much a 'mixed conditional' as a very confused conditional!

John's father died last night. I know this, because a friend rang and told me. He will be in mourning. So - I will not (won't) email him inviting him to a party tonight.
It is because I KNOW he is in mourning that I DO NOT EMAIL him. The 'knowing' stops me 'emailing'.
The 'knowing' MUST come before the emailing.

For the sentence above:
...................................|E<....(.would not) have sent......>|NOW
where E = point at which email is sent, or, knowing about John's father, the decision not to send is made.
Hence, 'knew' should....should come earlier than E.
But 'if I knew this', while in the past, is indeterminate as to when in the past: it could just as well be:
...................................|E<.....would not have sent...K...>|NOW

where K = point in time when you heard about John's father.
BUT THIS IS AFTER THE POINT AT WHICH THE EMAIL WAS (WOULD HAVE BEEN) SENT. We need to place the 'knowing' prior to the point at which it was (or would not have been) sent, by the use of Past Perfect.

It has to be: If I had known this, I would not have emailed you.

Extremedeveloper · Answer

Thank you so much for your help!

Extremedeveloper · Answer

Thank you so much for your help!

It is indeed confusing !

Conditional form

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