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Guyper Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Mixed conditionals
1. "If he had taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still lie sick in bed"
"If he took the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still lie sick in bed"
2. "If I had won the lottery, I would be rich"
"If I won the lottery, I would be rich"
Hi, I was thinking that if I choose either past perfect or simple past tense in the IF clause, they both seem to give me the same present result. Can they actually be used interchageably?
Thank you
"If he took the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still lie sick in bed"
2. "If I had won the lottery, I would be rich"
"If I won the lottery, I would be rich"
Hi, I was thinking that if I choose either past perfect or simple past tense in the IF clause, they both seem to give me the same present result. Can they actually be used interchageably?
Thank you
Top answer
1. "If he had taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine-taking was before now. "If he took the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine taking may be before now, or it is more likely at any non-past time.
- 1.
- "If he had taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine-taking was before now.
- "If he took the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine taking may be before now, or it is more likely at any non-past time.
- 2.
- "If I had won the lottery, I would be rich" -- The lottery was last week.
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3 Answers
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1. "If he had taken the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine-taking was before now.
"If he took the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine taking may be before now, or it is more likely at any non-past time.
2. "If I had won the lottery,
"If he took the medication as prescribed, he wouldn't still be lying sick in bed"-- The medicine taking may be before now, or it is more likely at any non-past time.
2. "If I had won the lottery,
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Last question, what about
"If I won the lottery, I would be rich"
and
"If I win the lottery, I'll be rich"
Is there any major difference in meaning as well?
Thank you
"If I won the lottery, I would be rich"
and
"If I win the lottery, I'll be rich"
Is there any major difference in meaning as well?
Thank you
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The first is Condition II and the second is Conditonal I. Read about conditionals [url=http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/conditional.htm] HERE[/url].
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