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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Condtitional tense

0 Are both sentences possible and if yes, would you say that there's any difference in meaning?02br
00"If I had signed that deal back then, I would have been a lot better off by now."02br
00"If I had signed that deal back then, I would be a lot better off by now." 0-
  

Top answer

0Hi,02br 02br 01font 00Are both sentences possible 00Yes02font 02br 02br 01font 00and if yes, would you say that there's any difference in meaning? 02font 00Not really. 'Would have been' suggests the process of getting better off started in the past, while' would be' focuses more on the fact that the speaker is better off in the present.

— Clive

  • 0Hi,02br 02br 01font 00Are both sentences possible 00Yes02font 02br 02br 01font 00and if yes, would you say that there's any difference in meaning?
  • 02font 00Not really.
  • 'Would have been' suggests the process of getting better off started in the past, while' would be' focuses more on the fact that the speaker is better off in the present.
  • However, the use of 'by now', particularly in #2, indicates that both the present, and the past leading up to the presen,t are being considered.
  • " 02font 02br 02br 02br 00Best wishes, Clive0-
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17 Answers
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0Hi,02br
02br
01font00Are both sentences possible 00Yes02font02br
02br
01font00and if yes, would you say that there's any difference in meaning? 02font00Not really. 'Would have been' suggests the process of getting better off started in the past, while' would be' focuses more
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0Many people use your first sentence, but it has never made any sense to me. Are you trying to place yourself "back then" and look forward to now? I didn't hear it while growing up in New England, but often heard it as an adult during trips to the midwest. Also in the midwest, I often heard, "If I would have . . . ., I would have . . . . ." Drove me nutz!0-
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0 Another example. This really has more to do with backshifting as well.02br
00 "If this happened, the last thing I'd be worried about would be/was/is what the repercussions would be/were/are."02br
00The first two possibilities (ie would and simple past) seem fairly plausible to me. The present tense sounds odd. Are all 3 alternatives possible though? Thanks. 0-
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0 I know this sentence might sound a bit weird but bear with me here.02br
00 "If I was on vacation, the last thing I would care about would be if I had/have closed the fridge."02br
00Past perfect or present perfect...which one should be used...or both? 0-
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1blockquote
01cite10Anonymous12cite10 "If I was on vacation, the last thing I would care about would be if I had/have closed the fridge." Past perfect or present perfect...which one should be used...or both?12blockquote
12br
00This is more interesting than it seems at first blush. My ear says you must use "had." But where is
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0I would omit the "by" in #2:02br
02br
001. If I had signed that deal back then, I would have been a lot better off by now.02br
002. If I had signed that deal back then, I would be a lot better off 01del00by02del00 now.02br
02br
00The modal perfect "would have been" in #1 reflects the "by now", i.e. the reference to t
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Anonymous12cite10 I know this sentence might sound a bit weird but bear with me here.12br
10 "If I was on vacation, the last thing I would care about would be if I had/have closed the fridge."12br
10Past perfect or present perfect...which one should be used...or both? 12br
12blockquote
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0Hi Amy, 02br
02br
00So this will yield to the same analysis?: 01i00If I'm on vacation, the last thing I'll worry about is whether I've closed the fridge!02i00 What tense do you call, "I'll worry"? Do I need 01u01i00will be whether02i02u00?02br
02br
00Thanks, - A.0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Avangi12cite10Hi Amy, 12br
10So this will yield to the same analysis?: 11i10If I'm on vacation, the last thing I'll worry about is whether I've closed the fridge!12i10 What tense do you call, "I'll worry"? Do I need 11u11i10will be whether12i12u10?12b
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0 Thanks everyone for the thorough analysis. My gut feeling told me to go with the past perfect on that fridge question but I just wasn't sure. So can anybody perhaps help with the other question I had?02br
02br
00 "If this happened, the last thing I'd be worried about would be/was/is what the repercussions would be/were/are."02br
02br
00 What would be
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