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Eagerness Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Conditional Sentence
I came accross the below sentence while I was reading the book. This sentences confused me, because had I said, I would have said it differently. I might be mistaken due to an English not being my native laungauge.
I wouldn't have left my job if I had know how difficult it is to find another one. I, on the other hand, think that it is should have been replaced with it was and the sentence would have been read"I wouldn't have left my job if I had know how difficult it was to find another one." Please tell me if I am wrong,and why. Is there any rule that I should follow that would help me better understand this kind of issue.
Thank you in advance for your help and time.
I wouldn't have left my job if I had know how difficult it is to find another one. I, on the other hand, think that it is should have been replaced with it was and the sentence would have been read"I wouldn't have left my job if I had know how difficult it was to find another one." Please tell me if I am wrong,and why. Is there any rule that I should follow that would help me better understand this kind of issue.
Thank you in advance for your help and time.
Top answer
Without a fuller context, the writer seems to be referring to a current situation [it is difficult to find a new job ] rather than to a past one.
- Without a fuller context, the writer seems to be referring to a current situation [it is difficult to find a new job ] rather than to a past one.
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4 Answers
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Without a fuller context, the writer seems to be referring to a current situation [it is difficult to find a new job] rather than to a past one.
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I would have taken a boat if I had known that New York was / is across the river from New Jersey.
In conversation, people often express these "currently existing conditions" in past tense when they're talking about something they did in the past. But when they write it down, they look at it and say, "Hey, wait a minute, New York is still there!" I wouldn't say the past tense is
In conversation, people often express these "currently existing conditions" in past tense when they're talking about something they did in the past. But when they write it down, they look at it and say, "Hey, wait a minute, New York is still there!" I wouldn't say the past tense is
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eagernessI wouldn't have left my job if I had known how difficult it is to find another one.Backshifting is always correct. was is therefore also correct. In fact, that's what I would have used. But the author used is to indicate that it is currently true that it is difficult for him to find another job. I
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CalifJim It suggests that he is currently in the process of looking for a new job.Good point!
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