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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
If he were
1) Just a quick question: If kings were gods, then priests would be their guardian angels. Is it present conditional? If so, is this the past conditional form: if kings had been gods, then priests would have been their guardian angels.
2) How would they help others while going through a lot of suffering themselves?
If we translate this into past tense, do we get: How would they have helped others while going through suffering themselves?
Is that right?
3) He gathered that the woman would crack under pressure any moment.
It appeared that the house would tumble any time soon.
Are both sentences past tense? If so, is 'would' (which essentially relates to the future) appropriate?
2) How would they help others while going through a lot of suffering themselves?
If we translate this into past tense, do we get: How would they have helped others while going through suffering themselves?
Is that right?
3) He gathered that the woman would crack under pressure any moment.
It appeared that the house would tumble any time soon.
Are both sentences past tense? If so, is 'would' (which essentially relates to the future) appropriate?
Top answer
1) Just a quick question: If kings were gods, then priests would be their guardian angels. -- Yes, present Conditional II. -- Yes, past Conditional III.
- 1) Just a quick question: If kings were gods, then priests would be their guardian angels.
- -- Yes, present Conditional II.
- -- Yes, past Conditional III.
- - -Right.
- -- Yes.
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5 Answers
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1) Just a quick question: If kings were gods, then priests would be their guardian angels. Is it present conditional?-- Yes, present Conditional II.
If so, is this the past conditional form: if kings had been gods, then priests would have been their guardian angels.-- Yes, past Conditional III.
2) Is that right?--Right.
3) Are both sentences past tense
If so, is this the past conditional form: if kings had been gods, then priests would have been their guardian angels.-- Yes, past Conditional III.
2) Is that right?--Right.
3) Are both sentences past tense
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Thanks, Mister Micawber. Reg. #1, I have a doubt. If I intend to write it as past tense, must it always be 'had been' followed by 'would have been' or 'had' followed by 'would have' and so on? Is there some other way to write it?
Reg. #3, I assume the same thing would apply to other verbs like could or might? He hoped it might be okay. He wondered whether she could do it. Since these li
Reg. #3, I assume the same thing would apply to other verbs like could or might? He hoped it might be okay. He wondered whether she could do it. Since these li
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Reg. #1, I have a doubt. If I intend to write it as past tense, must it always be 'had been' followed by 'would have been' or 'had' followed by 'would have' and so on?-- Yes, if you wish to express the condition. Is there some other way to write it?-- I can think only of a slightly different one:
Had kings been gods, priests would have been...
Reg.
Had kings been gods, priests would have been...
Reg.
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Thanks again. Is 'so that' and 'in order that' also conditional? For instance: The law had been imposed in order that the people might behave. If 'in order that' is conditional, does that mean 'might have' is appropriate here? My gut tells me it is not.
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