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CharmYou Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
If you break it, you bought it.
A sign in a store reads, "If you break it, you bought it."
Why past tense? I bought it? Is this happening in the past?
What's this called, second conditional? Third conditional? A really confusing grammar.
Why past tense? I bought it? Is this happening in the past?
What's this called, second conditional? Third conditional? A really confusing grammar.
Top answer
Don't place much credence in storeowners' signs. '
- Don't place much credence in storeowners' signs.
- '
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9 Answers
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Don't place much credence in storeowners' signs.
The sign should read 'If you break it, you buy it!'
The sign should read 'If you break it, you buy it!'
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I see it as a poor-English or folksy version of
'If you break it, you have bought it!'
Clive
'If you break it, you have bought it!'
Clive
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goronskyDon't place much credence in storeowners' signs.The sign should read 'If you break it, you buy it!'I like this one:
Pretty to look at / Pretty to hold / But if you break it / Then it's sold.
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CharmYouIf you break it, you bought it.... you have bought it is the correct form.
CJ
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No, is not a mistake. I have seen it too. if you break it you brought it. I was wondering the same, why in past tense?. but is commonly used. why?
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This is one of the rare occasions when I disagree with both Clive and CJ, For me, 'If you break it, you bought it' is fine, It tells me that the shopkeeper is is assuming that something that has been broken must have previously been bought. I have no problem with the present perfect, but feel that the past simple is also possible.
Goronsky's version would be far more natural with 'pay for
Goronsky's version would be far more natural with 'pay for
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