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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Confusing Tense

I will drive to yours later if my friend isn't offended that I ditched him.

I'm sorry that I've asked this question already, but I wasn't provided with a much needed explanation.

Why is the past simple acceptable here in bold, even though it is a hypothetical, future action?

(Incidentally, I would've guessed 'would have,' or maybe the future perfect 'will have.')

Thanks
  

Top answer

English 1b3 I will drive to yours your place later if my friend isn't offended that I ditched him. Why is the past simple acceptable here in bold, even though it is a hypothetical, future action? If you intend a hypothetical future action, then the past simple is not acceptable.

— CalifJim

  • English 1b3 I will drive to yours your place later if my friend isn't offended that I ditched him.
  • Why is the past simple acceptable here in bold, even though it is a hypothetical, future action?
  • If you intend a hypothetical future action, then the past simple is not acceptable.
  • You need something more like this: I'll drive to your place later if my friend isn't offended when I ditch him.
  • The sentence doesn't make a lot of sense, though.
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11 Answers
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English 1b3I will drive to yours your place later if my friend isn't offended that I ditched him. ... Why is the past simple acceptable here in bold, even though it is a hypothetical, future action?
If you intend a hypothetical future action, then the past simple is not acceptable. You n
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If you intend a hypothetical future action, then the past simple is not acceptable. You need something more like this:


I'll drive to your place later if my friend isn't offended when I ditch him.

The sentence doesn't make a lot of sense, though. If you ditch him and he is offended, then you won't drive anywhere? Maybe you mean something el
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English 1b3Can you explain, if possible, why the past tense is OK in your rewrite, when it is not in the past that I would ditch him, but it is in the future/about to happen?
A past tense in a if-clause accompanied by a main clause with would is considered a conditional sentence, specifically a "second" conditional. That use of the past tense is
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English 1b3If you intend a hypothetical future action ...
By the way, it is not necessary to copy and change the color of a passage you wish to quote. Just highlight the part you wish to quote with your mouse and click the Quote button in the upper right corner of the post you are responding to.

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I've not read all the previous discussion, so ignore this post if it's unhelpful in the context of what's already been explained.

I will drive to yours later if my friend isn't offended that I ditched him.

To me, this sentence is OK and means that you have already ditched your friend, or you intend to ditch him some time between now and deciding whether to make the
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Mr Wordyor you intend to ditch him some time between now and deciding whether to make the journey, but you don't yet know if your friend is or will be offended.
I can't quite wrap my brain around this one!
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CalifJim
Mr Wordyor you intend to ditch him some time between now and deciding whether to make the journey, but you don't yet know if your friend is or will be offended.
I can't quite wrap my brain around this one!
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Mr WordyYou mean because you think the friend is bound to be offended at being ditched?
LOL. No. More likely because my brain is just too tired tonight to work out who did what to whom when or would do what to whom before when or after when. All I get from ditched is ditched in the past tense.

There's a point when one can go no furt
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CalifJim No. More likely because my brain is just too tired tonight to work out who did what to whom when or would do what to whom before when or after when. All I get from ditched is ditched in the past tense.


I may not have explained it very well. The first scenario that I envisaged is like this:


1. You have ditc
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By the way, it is not necessary to copy and change the color of a passage you wish to quote. Just highlight the part you wish to quote with your mouse and click the Quote button in the upper right corner of the post you are responding to.





Thank you! I've wanted to know that for a while!
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