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Tommyek Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Cutting out a part of conditional.

I would like to express something like that:

It's a pity that I didn't keep up with learning maths when I was at school, because now I have to deal with that backlog.

I can express this as 3rd conditional:
If I had kept up with math at school I wouldn’t have dealt with backlog of math.

I think that the examples above are quite correct.

Can I express that in this way?:


I have a talk with an old friend:
E: Hi Tom!
T: Hi Emily!
E: It's good to see you again after so long!
E: Can we go for a walk?
T: No, I don't have time. I have to learn math.
E: You should have learnt math when you were at school.
T: I know. I wouldn’t have dealt with backlog of math now.
E: You're right. CU

What does it mean when I use: I wouldn't have to deal with backlog of math now.
What are the differences between I wouldn't have 3pp and I wouldn't have to...?

  

Top answer

Tommyek It's a pity that I didn't keep up with learning maths when I was at school, because now I have to deal with that backlog. I'm not much of a numbers man, but I can assure you that your second sentence here does not express your first one. ) Your original places the "failed dealing" in past time and the "catch-up dealing" in present time.

— Avangi

  • Tommyek It's a pity that I didn't keep up with learning maths when I was at school, because now I have to deal with that backlog.
  • I'm not much of a numbers man, but I can assure you that your second sentence here does not express your first one.
  • ) Your original places the "failed dealing" in past time and the "catch-up dealing" in present time.
  • Your replacement version places both in past time.
  • ) If I had kept up with math at school, I wouldn't have to deal with with this backlog [now].
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11 Answers
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TommyekIt's a pity that I didn't keep up with learning maths when I was at school, because now I have to deal with that backlog.

I can express this as 3rd conditional:

If I had kept up with math at school I wouldn’t have dealt with backlog of math.I'm not much of a numbers man, but I can assure you that your second sentence here does not express your fir
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AvangiIf I had kept up with math at school, I wouldn't have to deal with with this backlog.
is this 3rd conditional, or not?

Does this mean that now I have to deal with backlog of math?

What does it mean:

If I had kept up with math at school I wouldn’t have dealt with backlog of math.

?
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Avangi is right.

Compare

If I had studied more at college, I would be an engineer now. (the main clause denotes the present, not the past)

If I had studied more at college, I would have gotten that job at the clinic. (the main clause refers to the past and denotes an unrealized opportunity)

Basically they both can be seen as conditional III sentences even thou
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OK, thanks guys.

So, correct conversation should be look like this:
T: No, I don't have time. I have to learn math.
E: You should have learnt math when you were at school.
T: I know. I wouldn't have to deal with backlog of math now.
?
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Can I use would have 3pp to express future

What time does the concert start ?
- I would have thought at 6 pm

?
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Tommyekis this 3rd conditional, or not?
Are you asking about my replacement? I'm afraid I'll have to look it up!
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Thanks, you're very helpful!

But, can I say
What time does the concert start?
-I would have thought at 6 pm
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TommyekThanks, you're very helpful!But, can I say What time does the concert start?-I would have thought at 6 pm
Simply say

At 6, (I think)

"Would have + pp" always imlies some kind of conditonal

I would have thought at 6 pm, (had it not been for Peter who told me the concert would start at 7)
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Tommyek-I would have thought at 6 pm
This is correct and natural.

I guess it's an "implied" conditional.
Something like, "If you had asked me earlier, I would have said/thought 6 pm, but now that's obviously not true."

I think the significant difference here is that your original example describes a long continuous process
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Thanks, Ivanhr [Y]. Somehow I had too many things going on (at my real house) and didn't even see your posts! I just kept rambling on.
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