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Ana poland Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Conditional "If the first time wasn't ...:
Hi,
here's a sentence from a TV series.
CONTEXT: a girl tells a male friend that it's actually good that his first proposal didn't pan out because he could propose for a second time.
"If the first time wasn't lead-filled, you'd never be able to propose in a cookie."
The first proposal already happened so I don't understand why there is Past Simple in the first part of the sentence and not Past Perfect.
Can anyone explain?
here's a sentence from a TV series.
CONTEXT: a girl tells a male friend that it's actually good that his first proposal didn't pan out because he could propose for a second time.
"If the first time wasn't lead-filled, you'd never be able to propose in a cookie."
The first proposal already happened so I don't understand why there is Past Simple in the first part of the sentence and not Past Perfect.
Can anyone explain?
Top answer
First, what is the context? What does 'lead-filled' mean here? Does 'propose in a cookie'' mean 'hide a written marriage proposal inside a cookie'?
- First, what is the context?
- What does 'lead-filled' mean here?
- Does 'propose in a cookie'' mean 'hide a written marriage proposal inside a cookie'?
- Clive
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3 Answers
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First, what is the context?
What does 'lead-filled' mean here?
Does 'propose in a cookie'' mean 'hide a written marriage proposal inside a cookie'?
Clive
What does 'lead-filled' mean here?
Does 'propose in a cookie'' mean 'hide a written marriage proposal inside a cookie'?
Clive
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ana polandI don't understand why there is Past SimpleThe past often substitutes for the past perfect when the meaning is just as clear with the past.
CJ
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Thanks CalifJim
Clive, those aren't really crucial here, the sentence could just as well sound like:
"If the first time wasn't unsuccesful, you'd never be able to propose again."
(just for the sake of it, yes it's a proposal in a cookie and lead-filled is a reference to the idiom "go over like a lead baloon")
Clive, those aren't really crucial here, the sentence could just as well sound like:
"If the first time wasn't unsuccesful, you'd never be able to propose again."
(just for the sake of it, yes it's a proposal in a cookie and lead-filled is a reference to the idiom "go over like a lead baloon")
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