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Tedy Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Conditionals

Hi,

I have a sentance which meaning I hardly understand
if we were to be heard above all the noise—we had to be more visible at the executive level.
Are they talking for future or it is imaginary situation from the present.
The most confusing part is the verb "to be".
What will be the meaning if we have the same sentance without "to be" ?
if we were heard above all the noise—we had to be more visible at the executive level.

Thanks,

tedy
  

Top answer

tedy I f we were to be heard above all the noise , we had to be more visible at the executive level. Are they talking for about the future or it is an imaginary situation from in the present ? If we were to be heard (~ If we were going to be heard) ~ If we wanted anyone to hear us The viewpoint in time can be described as the past and "the future of the past".

— CalifJim

  • tedy I f we were to be heard above all the noise , we had to be more visible at the executive level.
  • Are they talking for about the future or it is an imaginary situation from in the present ?
  • If we were to be heard (~ If we were going to be heard) ~ If we wanted anyone to hear us The viewpoint in time can be described as the past and "the future of the past".
  • [We realized (in the past) that] if we wanted anyone to hear us (later), we had to be more visible (later) at the executive level.
  • tedy What will be the meaning if we have the same sentance without "to be" ?
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2 Answers
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tedyIf we were to be heard above all the noise, we had to be more visible at the executive level.
Are they talking for about the future or it is an imaginary situation from
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