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Musicgold Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Hypothetical situation

Hi,

Sentence #1 is by a native speaker. I feel that since it is a hypothetical situation, there should be a ‘would'. #2 is my version. Which one is correct?

1. I always wanted to know how Andy looked like if he went to the gym.

2. I always wanted to know how Andy would look like if he went to the gym.

Thanks,
MG.
  

Top answer

Actually, neither sounds good. Perhaps you misheard or the native speaker mistyped. I/I've always wanted to know ( what Andy looked like / how Andy looked ) when he went to the gym.

— Mister Micawber

  • Actually, neither sounds good.
  • Perhaps you misheard or the native speaker mistyped.
  • I/I've always wanted to know ( what Andy looked like / how Andy looked ) when he went to the gym.
  • I/I've always wanted to know ( what Andy would look like / how Andy would look ) if he went to the gym.
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5 Answers
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Actually, neither sounds good. Perhaps you misheard or the native speaker mistyped.

I/I've always wanted to know ( what Andy looked like / how Andy looked ) when he went to the gym.
I/I've always wanted to know ( what Andy would look like / how Andy would look ) if he went to the gym.
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Thanks MM.

May be some more info will set the context right. Andy never went to the gym. The speaker thinks that had Andy gone to the gym, he would have looked like how Bob looks today. So the speaker looks at Bob and says sentence #1.

Given this context, would 'when he went to the gym' sound right?
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No; nor would the verb forms be right. He would use the 2nd, hypothetical one.
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So, the following sentence would be correct in that situation?

I have always wanted to know how Andy would look like if he went to the gym.
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No.

how Andy would look if
what Andy would look like if
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