0
Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
if clause - hadn't been invented
hello everybody,
i'm not mentioning that i'm an english teacher... cause this would be embarrassing. but i just stumbled over the sentence:
If the wheel (not been invented) 4000 years ago, we (not have) any cars today.
so to me this looks like a type 3 if-clause but then again it doesn't make sense to write wouldn't have had any cars today. or does it?
Bold*If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have had any cars today. /*Bold
what sounds right and btw is the correct form in the book is:
If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have any cars today.
but why? is it actually a type 2 disguised with the passive form? maybe that's what i don't understand.
But
My uncle wouldn't have survive that terrible accident if he hadn't been taken to hospital immediately by helicopter.
... looks like the same type. just with no connection to the present.
oh i don't know. this is driving me crazy. please please help!!!
thank you!
i'm not mentioning that i'm an english teacher... cause this would be embarrassing. but i just stumbled over the sentence:
If the wheel (not been invented) 4000 years ago, we (not have) any cars today.
so to me this looks like a type 3 if-clause but then again it doesn't make sense to write wouldn't have had any cars today. or does it?
Bold*If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have had any cars today. /*Bold
what sounds right and btw is the correct form in the book is:
If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have any cars today.
but why? is it actually a type 2 disguised with the passive form? maybe that's what i don't understand.
But
My uncle wouldn't have survive that terrible accident if he hadn't been taken to hospital immediately by helicopter.
... looks like the same type. just with no connection to the present.
oh i don't know. this is driving me crazy. please please help!!!
thank you!
Top answer
Bold*If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have had any cars today. /*Bold what sounds right and btw is the correct form in the book is: If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have any cars today. Both forms are fine conditional forms.
- Bold*If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have had any cars today.
- /*Bold what sounds right and btw is the correct form in the book is: If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have any cars today.
- Both forms are fine conditional forms.
- The bold one stresses us having had cars for some time in the past (up to and including the present time).
- The second refers only to a present state.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Bold*If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have had any cars today. /*Bold
what sounds right and btw is the correct form in the book is:
If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have any cars today.
Both forms are fine conditional forms. The bold one stresses us having had cars for some time in the past (up to and inc
what sounds right and btw is the correct form in the book is:
If the wheel hadn't been invented 4000 years ago, we wouldn't have any cars today.
Both forms are fine conditional forms. The bold one stresses us having had cars for some time in the past (up to and inc
00
thank you so much! and you're right, your version does make more sense to me and makes me understand.
thank you!! also for the quick reply!
thank you!! also for the quick reply!
00
Anonymouslooks like a type 3 if-clauseNot entirely. The first part (the if-clause) is in the past so it's Type 3. The second part (the main clause) is in the present so it's Type 2. This is one of the "mixed conditionals" - 'if' in the past, the rest in the present.
Compare:
If I had studied Japanese when I was in school, I would be able
0
Related Questions