If Past Would

Question

Hello, Gurus and Members!If God did not exist, everything would be permitted. ...........  Here, we can see that “If + past + would” refers to the Present or Future events.But there seem to be sentences in the same structure that must be interpreted to mean Past events. :Yet if I heard it was in stock I would drop what I was doing to buy more.Then, can we say that “If + past + would” can refer to the events of Past, Present and Futre?Is it that the context decides?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

pructusthere seem to be sentences in the same structure that must be interpreted to mean Past events. :Yet if I heard it was in stock I would drop what I was doing to buy more.

That is also present and future: it is Conditional II.

CalifJim · Answer

pructusIs it that the context decides?

Yes. Some sentences can be read two (or more) ways. These sentences, which I've made very similar to yours, illustrate the point, particularly 2 and 3:

1. I don't usually hunt for bargains. Yet if I hear that a certain item is on sale, I'll drop what I'm doing to buy it. (habit in the present)

2. I didn't usually hunt for bargains (in those days). Yet if I heard that a certain item was on sale, I'd drop what I was doing to buy it. (habit in the past)

But also:

3. I know that you like to collect clocks. What would you do if you found out that a certain clock you wanted was on sale? — If I heard that a clock was on sale and I really wanted it, I would drop what I was doing to buy it. (theoretical speculation in the present about future behavior)

CJ

If Past Would

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