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Jackson6612 Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

If he was lucky he'd find a cab there...

0 01span00If he 02span01span00was02span01span00 lucky he'd find a cab there, though at this time of night they weren't frequent.02span02br
02br
00What could possibly the context for the above sentence? I would have used 01i00were02i00 in place of 01i00was02i00 because whatever is being said is somewhat hypothetical. 0-
  

Top answer

0Hi Jackson, 02br 02br 00"He" is in some location, possibly unable to find transportation. Actually, "frequency" in this context is usually applied to busses. One usually calls by telephone for a taxi cab, unless one is in the city at a busy time, and can "hail" a passing cab which is unoccupied.

— Avangi

  • 0Hi Jackson, 02br 02br 00"He" is in some location, possibly unable to find transportation.
  • Actually, "frequency" in this context is usually applied to busses.
  • One usually calls by telephone for a taxi cab, unless one is in the city at a busy time, and can "hail" a passing cab which is unoccupied.
  • 02br 02br 00The subjunctive seems to be optional these days in this sort of sentence.
  • 02br 02br 00Edit.
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11 Answers
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0Hi Jackson, 02br
02br
00"He" is in some location, possibly unable to find transportation. Actually, "frequency" in this context is usually applied to busses. One usually calls by telephone for a taxi cab, unless one is in the city at a busy time, and can "hail" a passing cab which is unoccupied. In a remote area late at night, if he's "lucky" enough to see a cab passing by
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1blockquote
01cite10Jackson661212cite10If he 11font10was12font10 lucky he'd find a cab there, though at this time of night they weren't frequent.12br
12br
10What could possibly the context for the above sentence? I would have used 11i10were12i10 in place of 11i1
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0 That "was" sounds like a simple past tense to me. John wanted to go away at once. He thought getting to Lincoln street would be a good idea. If he was lucky, he would find a cab there...02br
050010id1
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0If I were a bear I wouldn't say that.02br
02br
00Edit. Sorry. I believe you're right. "If it rained he would get wet." (If it were to rain he would get wet. If he were to be lucky, he would find a cab there . . . )0-
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1blockquote
02br
12br
10Jackson ran all the way to Piccadilly Circus. If he 10was10 lucky he'd find a cab there, though at this time of night they weren't very frequent.12br
12br
11font12br
10i.e. a reported version of:12br
12font11blockquote
12br
20Jackson r
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0Also possible, if you change "this" to "that":01blockquote
02br
12br
10Every night he went out for a drink, missed the last train, and then had to run all the way to Piccadilly Circus. If he was lucky, he would find a cab there; though they weren't very frequent at that time of night.12br
12br
10Here, "if" = "whenever". 12br
12br
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0I enjoy your clear and very practical examples. - A.0-
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0 How is 01span01span00Piccadilly pronounced?02br
02br
00Like p-ka-d-lee, 01i00ka02i00 as in polka?02br
02span02span00 0-
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0I believe you have it right. I'd say the first part is like "hiccup." There are two equal stresses on "p" and "d," at least in the US. Perhaps in the UK they only stress the "P."02br
02br
00Edit. Oh well. My American Heritage shows a stronger stress on the "dil." All I know is from singing 01i00It's a Long Way To Tipparary02i00. I guess the "d"
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0Hi Jackson 01blockquote
01cite10Jackson661212cite10If he 10was10 lucky he'd find a cab there, though at this time of night they weren't frequent.12br
12br
10What could possibly the context for the above sentence? I would have used 11i10were12i10 in place of 11i10was12i10 because
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