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Zajoman Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Mixed conditional
I've come across what I believe is a mixed conditional. I perfectly understand the meaning, but I'm not 100% sure about the condition.
"If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I would be floating down the Colorado River right now."
"Had gone" instead of "went" is used here because the "going rafting" happened in the past and is not going to happen concerning this one trip, right? I'm not speculating about a trip that is just to happen, but I'm talking about a trip that is already in place and my "going rafting" just cannot happen since I stayed at work.
I think I get this right, but what about the second part. "Would be floating" instead of "would have been floating" is used here because the "floating down the river" is happening right now? If I were talking about a trip that happened some time ago, would I say: "If I had gone..., I would have floated..."?
"If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I would be floating down the Colorado River right now."
"Had gone" instead of "went" is used here because the "going rafting" happened in the past and is not going to happen concerning this one trip, right? I'm not speculating about a trip that is just to happen, but I'm talking about a trip that is already in place and my "going rafting" just cannot happen since I stayed at work.
I think I get this right, but what about the second part. "Would be floating" instead of "would have been floating" is used here because the "floating down the river" is happening right now? If I were talking about a trip that happened some time ago, would I say: "If I had gone..., I would have floated..."?
Top answer
Zajoman I've come across what I believe is a mixed conditional. I perfectly understand the meaning, but I'm not 100% sure about the condition. " Yes it's fine.
- Zajoman I've come across what I believe is a mixed conditional.
- I perfectly understand the meaning, but I'm not 100% sure about the condition.
- " Yes it's fine.
- "Had gone" instead of "went" is used here because the "going rafting" happened in the past (like in the Third Conditional) and is not going to happen concerning this one trip, right?
- Yes.
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4 Answers
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ZajomanI've come across what I believe is a mixed conditional. I perfectly understand the meaning, but I'm not 100% sure about the condition.
"If I had gone white water rafting with my friends, I would be floating down the Colorado River right now." Yes it's fine.
"Had gone" instead of "went" is used here because the "going rafting" happened in t
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Hi, Fandorin, my Slav brother. 
Thanks for the answer. Now, is there a difference in the sentence between "would have float
Thanks for the answer. Now, is there a difference in the sentence between "would have float
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You are welcome!
Indeed, there is a slightly different.The latter that you emphasise points the action is in a progress.
Indeed, there is a slightly different.The latter that you emphasise points the action is in a progress.
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You could also say:
1. If I had gone..., I would have been floating down the river by now.
The difference from
2. If I had gone..., I would be floating down the river now.
is that #1 shades in a little of the recent past behind the "floating".
Best wishes,
MrP
1. If I had gone..., I would have been floating down the river by now.
The difference from
2. If I had gone..., I would be floating down the river now.
is that #1 shades in a little of the recent past behind the "floating".
Best wishes,
MrP
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