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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
In re tense consistency in present hypothetical
Hi. I think a typical type 2 conditional denoting a present hypothetical situation might run (be written) like this:
If she were with him, she wouldn't be sad.
I think this would be correct, too.
If he were with her, he wouldn't be sad.
As to the main question, would this be correct? Please look at the underlined part. I think the present hypothetical denotes an imaginary situation from the present-time perspective. Even though, what I said might be true, it doesn't help me with my trying to figure out what the correct tense might be. Help.
If he were with the person he loves/loved, would he be sad?
If she were with him, she wouldn't be sad.
I think this would be correct, too.
If he were with her, he wouldn't be sad.
As to the main question, would this be correct? Please look at the underlined part. I think the present hypothetical denotes an imaginary situation from the present-time perspective. Even though, what I said might be true, it doesn't help me with my trying to figure out what the correct tense might be. Help.
If he were with the person he loves/loved, would he be sad?
Top answer
Anonymous If he were with the person he loves/loved, would he be sad? With loves I sense that the speaker knows who he loves, so the speaker has a particular person in mind. With loved I sense that the speaker is saying that he doesn't necessarily love anyone at this time, but is speaking of someone he might find some day.
- Anonymous If he were with the person he loves/loved, would he be sad?
- With loves I sense that the speaker knows who he loves, so the speaker has a particular person in mind.
- With loved I sense that the speaker is saying that he doesn't necessarily love anyone at this time, but is speaking of someone he might find some day.
- In short, loves is real; loved is hypothetical.
- CJ
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1 Answers
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AnonymousIf he were with the person he loves/loved, would he be sad?With loves I sense that the speaker knows who he loves, so the speaker has a particular person in mind. With loved I sense that the speaker is saying that he doesn't necessarily love anyone at this time, but is speaking of someone he might find some day.
In short,
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