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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
I would be vs I would have been
Say a doctor saves a patient from cancer. Which one of the following would be correct to say?
If not for him, I would have died
or
If not for him, I would be dead ?
I was told to use the first one in schools but nowadays I see the second one being used most often.
Could you help?
Thank you
If not for him, I would have died
or
If not for him, I would be dead ?
I was told to use the first one in schools but nowadays I see the second one being used most often.
Could you help?
Thank you
Top answer
Hi, Both are fine. They just have a different focus. Say a doctor saves a patient from cancer.
- Hi, Both are fine.
- They just have a different focus.
- Say a doctor saves a patient from cancer.
- Which one of the following would be correct to say?
- If not for him, I would have died (at some point in the past) or If not for him, I would be dead ?
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2 Answers
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Hi,
Both are fine. They just have a different focus.
Say a doctor saves a patient from cancer. Which one of the following would be correct to say?
If not for him, I would have died (at some point in the past)
or
If not for him, I would be d
Both are fine. They just have a different focus.
Say a doctor saves a patient from cancer. Which one of the following would be correct to say?
If not for him, I would have died (at some point in the past)
or
If not for him, I would be d
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Anon,
Conversationally, both examples may not be put under the grammar-scope for correctness and deemed acceptable. However, to be grammatically and semantically correct, you need to say, "If not for him, I would have been dead". Just my opinion....
Conversationally, both examples may not be put under the grammar-scope for correctness and deemed acceptable. However, to be grammatically and semantically correct, you need to say, "If not for him, I would have been dead". Just my opinion....
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