Conditional II VS. Future-in-the-Past
If you had told me a year ago that I would be standing on this stage now I would have never believed it.
- Cond III in the if-clause and the main clause, and
- would be standing - should be regarded as
(1) unreal Cond II for a current action viewed from an alternative reality where it is impossible?
Or
(2) real Future Continuous-in-the-Past for the current action viewed from the past reality where 'you didn't tell and I didn't believe that I would be standing'?
Thank you in advance. I'd appreciate your help,
YETY
Top answer
" This speech act never happened. If it had happened, A would not have believed him. Since it is past, and it didn't happen, the "speech act" is an unreal condition in the past.
- " This speech act never happened.
- If it had happened, A would not have believed him.
- Since it is past, and it didn't happen, the "speech act" is an unreal condition in the past.
- "
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A year ago, B says to A, "A year from now you will be standing on this stage."
This speech act never happened. If it had happened, A would not have believed him.
Since it is past, and it didn't happen, the "speech act" is an unreal condition in the past. The unreal condition is "If you had told me..."
In reported speech, "will" is changed to "would."
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