if in certain cases

Question

I've always been told that I can't use the psimple with if as follows

-if you didn't tell him he didn't know

the sentence is not meant to have a particular meaning but to show that the psimple is used both in the part after if and even in the second part......why?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Why what? Why can't you do this?

It seems okay to me, depending on context.

He dropped the pot of gravy and broke it. He should have known it was hot. (reply) If you didn't tell him, he didn't know.

You may also say, If you hadn't told him, he didn't know, emphasizing that the telling would have preceded the dropping.

You may even say, If you hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known.

There may well be rules about this, but I think it's perfectly natural to say it the first way when you wish to imply that "you" are the only person who had an opportunity to tell him, and who was aware of the circumstances, including the likelihood he'd think it was not hot.

Another example: If this was the case, he was not to blame. (both simple - perfectly natural)

What am I missing? Are we worrying about subjunctive here? If this were the case, he would not have been to blame.

- A.

MRANALYZE · Answer

Avangi  +Add as a community friend +   (missing image) #559019  Wed, 27 Aug 08 12:48 AM

Why what? Why can't you do this?

It seems okay to me, depending on context.

He dropped the pot of gravy and broke it. He should have known it was hot. (reply)  If you didn't tell him, he didn't know.

You may also say, If you hadn't told him, he didn't know, emphasizing that the telling would have preceded the dropping.

You may even say, If you hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known.

There may well be rules about this, but I think it's perfectly natural to say it the first way when you wish to imply that "you" are the only person who had an opportunity to tell him, and who was aware of the circumstances, including the likelihood he'd think it was not hot.

Another example:  If this was the case, he was not to blame. (both simple   -   perfectly natural)

What am I missing? Are we worrying about subjunctive here?   If this were the case, he would not have been to blame.

that's what I was talking about......thank you avangi......I asked that because every time I asked they would show me the rule and the rule is always with those types of if and the case I showed is not mentioned on it

if in certain cases

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