"If I were" in past

Question

Hi All,Another question on the usage of conditionals based on "If I were".Present Unreal condition:If I were stronger, I would take part in running competition.How should I write/express this if I want to use this for something relating to the past(Past unreal)IF...............,I would have taken part in running competition.Rgds,Nene.

Philip · Accepted Answer

If I had been stronger.........

Huevos · Answer

nene4englishHow should I write/express this if I want to use this for something relating to the past(Past unreal)

If I were to have been stronger I would have taken part.
Or without "were":
If I had been stronger I would have taken part.

Philip · Answer

Huevos
nene4englishHow should I write/express this if I want to use this for something relating to the past(Past unreal)
If I were to have been stronger I would have taken part.

Or without "were":

If I had been stronger I would have taken part.

I can't speak for the UK, but this would not likely be heard in the US.

Huevos · Answer

PhilipI can't speak for the UK, but this would not likely be heard in the US.

Hi Philip,
I know it is unusual which is why I also posted the default form, but my understanding was the OP was specifically asking for the "were" form of a type III conditional. I just tried a search of "http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&lr=lang_en%7Clang_es&q=site:gutenberg.org+%2B%22were+to+have+been%22&start=0&sa=N" on Gutenberg.org and it turned up more than 100 books.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Huevos
PhilipI can't speak for the UK, but this would not likely be heard in the US.
Hi Philip,
I know it is unusual which is why I also posted the default form, but my understanding was the OP was specifically asking for the "were" form of a type III conditional. I just tried a search of "" on Gutenberg.org and it turned up more than 100 books.

Yes, but what do they mean? In many of them:

---------
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14841/14841-h/14841-h.htm

... two of them officers of our brigade, in consequence of which cards were exchanged, and two duels were to have been fought the next morning. ...

---------

they mean: were scheduled/meant to take place the next morning

This is indicative, not subjunctive.

For past time, in the original context, I suggest the had version.

**If I were to have been stronger I would have taken part. [this is strange to me.

Huevos · Answer

Marius Hancutwo duels were to have been fought the next morning

Yes it is indicative in that quote but it could just as well be be part of an "if" clause.
If two duels were to have been fought the next morning instead of just one twice as many people would have been injured.
Certainly very unusual but I don't believe it is erroneous.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22if+she+were+to+have+been%22&btnG=Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22if+you+were+to+have+been%22&btnG=Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22if+he+were+to+have+been%22&btnG=Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22if+I+were+to+have+been%22&btnG=Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22if+it+were+to+have+been%22&btnG=Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22if+they+were+to+have+been%22&btnG=Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es.

MrPedantic · Answer

I think the difference is that "be" is a main verb, in the original example; but in the "duelling" example, it is part of a compound passive construction.

(Also, in the original, you wouldn't say "If I were to be stronger,...". So there's no reason to use a present perfect version of the latter for the "past".)

MrP

Huevos · Answer

MrPedanticyou wouldn't say "If I were to be stronger,..."

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22If+I+were+to+be%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta=lr%3Dlang_en%7Clang_es

MrPedantic · Answer

Huevos
MrPedanticyou wouldn't say "If I were to be stronger,..."

But I don't think this works:

1. If I were to be stronger, I would take part in a running competition.

What do other people think?

MrP

Marius Hancu · Answer

Most examples with "were" there are for the present time.
Also, better to work the Google Books, it's more educated than plain Google.
I agree with MrP and Philip, this does not work here in past time:

If I were to have been stronger I would have taken part.

"If I were" in past

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