Grammar question no. 13 - If I didn't...

Question

Dear All,Can you have a look at this sentence and tell me whether it's correct or not?the sentence was uttered after a classIf I didn't fail any of the students today, it'd ruin my reputation. They have to know I'm strict.The second conditional used here seems to be not the right choice. The second one is usually used when we speculate about the future, isn't it?

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

The sentence looks correct to me. However, I am not used to terms such as the second conditional. If you mean it'd ruin, this present conditional is used to refer to the present and the future:

If I had more money, I would be a rich man.
If I went there tomorrow, I would see him.

CB

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Thank you CB.

The thing is that the person already finished the class (so it belongs to the past) and the sentence is uttered afterwards. The intended meaning is related to the class that took place for example an hour ago.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Perfect StrangerThe thing is that the person already finished the class (so it belongs to the past) and the sentence is uttered afterwards. The intended meaning is related to the class that took place for example an hour ago.

I understand your problem now. When I read the sentence, I got the impression that the teacher had indeed conducted a class but had not yet failed anyone. My impression was that he had yet to mark the students' exam papers and then decide whether he should fail any of them or not.

CB

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Cool BreezeI understand your problem now. When I read the sentence, I got the impression that the teacher had indeed conducted a class but had not yet failed anyone. My impression was that he had yet to mark the students' exam papers and then decide whether he should fail any of them or not.

Thanks your reply.

Well, we still need to figure out which conditional should be used in such context.

RandomGuy · Answer

If the teacher has failed the students, then you need hadn’t failed and would’ve ruined.

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Aspara Gus, thank you.

Yes, I was considering using the III conditional (past perfect + would have) but I'm wondering whether this one could work even better:

If I hadn't failed any students, it would ruin my reputation

After all, the reference here might be for the future consequences. What do you think?

RandomGuy · Answer

Perfect StrangerWhat do you think?

I trust you.

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Aspara GusI trust you.

The thing is I don't trust myself...

Well, I don't mean to beat a dead horse here but let me go back to the matter in question. A man fails somebody in class. Then, after the class, he wants to say that he had to fail somebody, otherwise his reputation would be ruined and people wouldn't consider him to be strict. So... should I say:

1) If he hadn't failed anybody, his reputation would have suffered.

As far as I know, the 3rd conditional is used when we talk about the past that can't be changed, when we express our wishes and regrets.

2) If he hadn't falied anybody, his reputation would suffer.

This is a mixed contitonal. A mixture of the 3rd and 2nd conditionals.

Thanks

RandomGuy · Answer

I think both are possible, but I would speak generally by saying If he didn’t fail any of his students, his reputation would suffer.

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Aspara GusI think both are possible, but I would speak generally by saying If he didn’t fail any of his students, his reputation would suffer.

Thanks AG. I appreciate your comment, but let me labour the point a bit further. I hope you'll join in for another round

All the books I have claim what follows:

the II conditional (If + past simple, I/he/she etc. + would) is used in order to speculate about the future from the present point of view and there seems to be no reference to the past.

For example: If I had 1,000,000 USD, I'd buy a new house. But I don't have such money.

the III conditional (If + past perfect, I/he/she etc. + would have) is used to express our regrets about the past that can't be changed...

For example: If I had studied harder, I wouldn't have failed the exam. But in fact the person did fail it. The past can't be changed here.

What I want to expres is that something took place in the past (for example, one hour ago) but in fact it has some impact on the present or the future. Therefore, my guess is to mix two different conditionals. However, I would be very happy to hear from you AG and others as well. You probably have a more natural way of expressing it.

Grammar question no. 13 - If I didn't...

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