0
SheltieBites Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Hypothetical Past
Let's say I am on vacation and I am thinking about if I have enough money to last until the day I go home:
"If I run out of money, I will go home early."
"If I ran out of money, I would go home early."
Is it okay to use the hypothetical past tense, even if the writer is not certain about the possibility of an event happening or not happening?
"If I run out of money, I will go home early."
"If I ran out of money, I would go home early."
Is it okay to use the hypothetical past tense, even if the writer is not certain about the possibility of an event happening or not happening?
Top answer
Only #1 is reasonable in that situation.
- Only #1 is reasonable in that situation.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
0
So, only use hypothetical past tense on a event when the writer is certain the said event will not happen?
00
If I ran out of money, I would go home early.
I don't like the term 'hypothetical past'. Where did you find that? The subjunctive here refers to the hypothetical non-past: the present or future. No one is ever certain about the future; it is merely improbable.
I don't like the term 'hypothetical past'. Where did you find that? The subjunctive here refers to the hypothetical non-past: the present or future. No one is ever certain about the future; it is merely improbable.
00
Related Questions