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Rom Reigns Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

conditional sentence

Rule - In conditional sentence if the "if clause" is in the past tense, then the "main clause" will also be in past tense and vice versa.

Recently I was reading a newspaper and in one of the article it was written "If anyone knows the source, I would appreciate their giving it to me."

I think it should be 'knew' in place of 'knows' because of 2nd conditional sentence.
What do you suggest.

RR
  

Top answer

Rom Reigns I think it should be 'knew' in place of 'knows' because of 2nd conditional sentence. No; 'would' is used in its function of courtesy.

— Mister Micawber

  • Rom Reigns I think it should be 'knew' in place of 'knows' because of 2nd conditional sentence.
  • No; 'would' is used in its function of courtesy.
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4 Answers
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Rom ReignsI think it should be 'knew' in place of 'knows' because of 2nd conditional sentence.
No; 'would' is used in its function of courtesy.
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Mister MicawberNo; 'would' is used in its function of courtesy.
If I met a ghost who had wings, I would not be scared.
If I met a ghost who has wings, I would not be scared.

Which one is grammatically correct ?

RR
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The first one is more grammatically correct.
If I met a ghost who had wings, I would not be scared.
That way, both "met" and "had" have been converted into the past tense for the purpose of the conditional sentence and therefore agree.
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Rom ReignsIf anyone knows the source, I would appreciate their giving it to me.
In my opinion, the politeness formula occurs outside the scope of the conditional. The following ungrammatical sentence shows the parsing I'm thinking of.

I would appreciate [you give me the source if you know it].

CJ
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