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JungKim Posted 9 years ago
Grammar
If it [was not/were not/had not been] for Newton...
This is an English test where you determine whether the given sentence is grammatical or not.
If it was not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not be discovered.
And I know that this is ungrammatical.
The question is how much you have to correct it to make it grammatical:
(1) If it was not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
(2) If it were not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
(3) If it had not been for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
Which one is grammatical? And which one is natural?
I think (3) is grammatical. But what about (1) or (2)?
If it was not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not be discovered.
And I know that this is ungrammatical.
The question is how much you have to correct it to make it grammatical:
(1) If it was not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
(2) If it were not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
(3) If it had not been for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
Which one is grammatical? And which one is natural?
I think (3) is grammatical. But what about (1) or (2)?
Top answer
And I know that this is ungrammatical. Not in all people's point of views this is incorrect . But in formal language, I think, most of people use were form of be for conditional sentences like this.
- And I know that this is ungrammatical.
- Not in all people's point of views this is incorrect .
- But in formal language, I think, most of people use were form of be for conditional sentences like this.
- JungKim (2) If it were not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
- This seems mixed-conditional to me and fine.
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4 Answers
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JungKimIf it was not for Newton, the law of gravitation would not be discovered.And I know that this is ungrammatical.Not in all people's point of views this is incorrect . But in formal language, I think, most of people use were form of be for conditional sentences like this.
JungKim(2) If it were not for Newton, the la
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Sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about. Are you even a native speaker of English?
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No I'm not a native speaker. But please tell me what portion do you not understand?
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3) If it had not been for Newton, the law of gravitation would not have been discovered.
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This one is your best choice. It is grammatical and natural. (2) is OK. I don't recommend (1).
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CJ
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This one is your best choice. It is grammatical and natural. (2) is OK. I don't recommend (1).
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CJ
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