0
Andrei Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
He would have been 93 on Sunday
Former Labour Prime Minister Lord Callaghan has died aged 92, a family spokeswoman has said.
He passed away at home in East Sussex, just over a week after his wife Audrey died aged 91.
Lord Callaghan, who would have been 93 on Sunday, recently became the oldest living former British PM in history.
James Callaghan became prime minister in 1976 after the resignation of Harold Wilson. He became Lord Callaghan of Cardiff in 1987.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Callaghan, who would have been 93 on Sunday.
Is the following correct too in this conetext?
Lord Callaghan, who would be 93 on Sunday.
Your thoughts, please.
Let us say that you are 102 years old today and your birtday falls on Sunday. You will say I will be 103 on Sunday.
1. If my father lived today, he would be 106 years old.
I am sure the above is fine
He passed away at home in East Sussex, just over a week after his wife Audrey died aged 91.
Lord Callaghan, who would have been 93 on Sunday, recently became the oldest living former British PM in history.
James Callaghan became prime minister in 1976 after the resignation of Harold Wilson. He became Lord Callaghan of Cardiff in 1987.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Callaghan, who would have been 93 on Sunday.
Is the following correct too in this conetext?
Lord Callaghan, who would be 93 on Sunday.
Your thoughts, please.
Let us say that you are 102 years old today and your birtday falls on Sunday. You will say I will be 103 on Sunday.
1. If my father lived today, he would be 106 years old.
I am sure the above is fine
Top answer
What you want here is "If my father were alive today, he would be 106 years old" or "If my father had lived until today, he would have been 106 years old". ) In the original question it seems the author was emphasizing the counterfactuality by saying "would have been 93" (if he had lived, and he hasn't). CJ
- What you want here is "If my father were alive today, he would be 106 years old" or "If my father had lived until today, he would have been 106 years old".
- ) In the original question it seems the author was emphasizing the counterfactuality by saying "would have been 93" (if he had lived, and he hasn't).
- CJ
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
27 Answers
0
What you want here is "If my father were alive today, he would be 106 years old" or "If my father had lived until today, he would have been 106 years old". (The "until today" is a bit clumsy; I'd opt for the first of the two.)
In the original question it seems the author was emphasizing the counterfactuality by saying "would have been 93" (if he had lived, and he hasn't).
CJ
In the original question it seems the author was emphasizing the counterfactuality by saying "would have been 93" (if he had lived, and he hasn't).
CJ
00
The "would have been 93 on Sunday" phrase is an idiomatic way of saying that particular day was his birthday. It is a form of saying that he "would have turned (or become) 93 on Sunday."
00
Thanks Calfjim
4. If I devoured poisionous food, I would die.
5. If I devour poisonous food, I will die.
The above two sentences are fine.
By the same taken, I would write the following sentence:
If my father lived today, he would be 106 years old.
What is wrong with the above?
You could say the following too:
4. If I devoured poisionous food, I would die.
5. If I devour poisonous food, I will die.
The above two sentences are fine.
By the same taken, I would write the following sentence:
If my father lived today, he would be 106 years old.
What is wrong with the above?
You could say the following too:
00
Let me try help you, Andrei
Your last two sentences are not right since the 2-d conditional isn't appropriate here. As you undertsand the condition included is IMPOSSIBLE, therefore the 3-d condition should be used. (The second conditional, as you used it, describes HYPOTHETICAL, POSSIBLE situation. In the first two sentences it's possible that you eat the poisonous food so it's OK).
Your last two sentences are not right since the 2-d conditional isn't appropriate here. As you undertsand the condition included is IMPOSSIBLE, therefore the 3-d condition should be used. (The second conditional, as you used it, describes HYPOTHETICAL, POSSIBLE situation. In the first two sentences it's possible that you eat the poisonous food so it's OK).
00
The above two sentences are fine.
By the same taken, I would write the following sentence:
If my father lived today, he would be 106 years old.
What is wrong with the above?
JTT: There is nothing grammatically wrong with it, Andrei. It's just not idiomatic. There are many many possible ways to say any given thing but they just aren't idiomatic.
By the same taken, I would write the following sentence:
If my father lived today, he would be 106 years old.
What is wrong with the above?
JTT: There is nothing grammatically wrong with it, Andrei. It's just not idiomatic. There are many many possible ways to say any given thing but they just aren't idiomatic.
00
Andrei,
There's nothing wrong with your sentence from the viewpoint of the tenses you use. As pointed out by others, the problem is with the idiomatic way of indicating in English that a person is not dead!
In the present we say, "I am alive", not "I live".
The idiomatic way to ask a related question, for example, is "Is he dead or is he alive?" We don't say, "Is h
There's nothing wrong with your sentence from the viewpoint of the tenses you use. As pointed out by others, the problem is with the idiomatic way of indicating in English that a person is not dead!
In the present we say, "I am alive", not "I live".
The idiomatic way to ask a related question, for example, is "Is he dead or is he alive?" We don't say, "Is h
00
Hi JTT and CJ
I was taught that when we have a situation which is at the moment impossible, we must use the 3-d condition. And if the situation is hypothetical, still it's possible that it will hapen but now it's not the case, we use the 2-nd. For example: 'If I were you I would be smarter' -- now I am not 'you' but I can probably become in the future. But Hitler will not probably and
I was taught that when we have a situation which is at the moment impossible, we must use the 3-d condition. And if the situation is hypothetical, still it's possible that it will hapen but now it's not the case, we use the 2-nd. For example: 'If I were you I would be smarter' -- now I am not 'you' but I can probably become in the future. But Hitler will not probably and
00
Hi JTT and CJ
I was taught that when we have a situation which is at the moment impossible, we must use the 3-d condition.
JTT: Give me some examples if you would, Maverick. Also, tell me again what the 3rd conditional is. I've never bothered to memorize them them because they are largely useless for ENLs and next to useless for teaching ESL.
Mav:
And if the
I was taught that when we have a situation which is at the moment impossible, we must use the 3-d condition.
JTT: Give me some examples if you would, Maverick. Also, tell me again what the 3rd conditional is. I've never bothered to memorize them them because they are largely useless for ENLs and next to useless for teaching ESL.
Mav:
And if the
00
Hello Mav
Type 2 conditionals do tend to refer to imaginary situations:
1. If Hitler were alive today, he would regularly appear on Saturday night chat shows.
They are often used when giving advice, because giving advice often involves presenting an imaginary alternative:
2. If I were you, I wouldn't appear on that chat show with Herr Hitler.
Type
Type 2 conditionals do tend to refer to imaginary situations:
1. If Hitler were alive today, he would regularly appear on Saturday night chat shows.
They are often used when giving advice, because giving advice often involves presenting an imaginary alternative:
2. If I were you, I wouldn't appear on that chat show with Herr Hitler.
Type
00
Hi MrP and JTT
1) If I use the 3-d conditional instaed of 2-d (If Hiter were alive...). Is that possible? Doesn't that somewhat imply about his death in the past?
2) If I say 'Hitler hasn't been alive for 60 years', the sentence contains a sense of past. Do I have to use the 3-d conditional here?
3) When should I use 2-d 'if' with a main clause of the 3-d conditional. Lik
1) If I use the 3-d conditional instaed of 2-d (If Hiter were alive...). Is that possible? Doesn't that somewhat imply about his death in the past?
2) If I say 'Hitler hasn't been alive for 60 years', the sentence contains a sense of past. Do I have to use the 3-d conditional here?
3) When should I use 2-d 'if' with a main clause of the 3-d conditional. Lik
0
Related Questions