If they asked you whether you liked (like) pasta, would you say you didn’t
Hello
I am wondering whether these tenses are correct:
I am am asking my Friend:
If someone came up to you right now and asked you whether you liked ( like) pizza would you say that you didn’t (don’t)
can I use the “past tenses” although it is said in the present ?
Top answer
" "Whether you liked pizza" is easier to say than "whether you like pizza", and "don't" is easier to say than "didn't". The word "didn't" is especially hard to pronounce.
- " "Whether you liked pizza" is easier to say than "whether you like pizza", and "don't" is easier to say than "didn't".
- The word "didn't" is especially hard to pronounce.
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In US English, the preferred usage in the given sentence would be past tense - "liked" - together with the present tense - "don't." The reason for this is apparently euphony: "...whether you liked pizza, would you say that you don't?", is easier to say than, "...whether you like pizza, would you say that you didn't?" "Whether you liked pizza" is easier to say than "whether you like pizza",
0franziska bohncan I use the “past tenses” although it is said in the present ?
If you are speaking, whatever you say is said in the present, no matter what tense you use.
franziska bohnIf someone came up to you right now and asked you whether you liked pizza would you say that you didn’t?
Just as shown above is fin
0The four given sentences, "If someone....liked/like pizza, would you ....you didn't/don't?" are all okay. It's just that in colloquial speech (in the US) some things "roll off the tongue" easier that others, and thus are used in preference to others. In this situation, the generally preferred sentence, because it easier to say/more pleasing to the ear, is: "If someone came up to you right n
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