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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Past future perfect

Ok, so apparently the only technically correct version is the second alternative here. Others have disagreed, but I wish to try and understand this particular opinion before disregarding it. It's only fair, right?





I left home early to make sure I had extra time in case I got lost.

I left home early to make sure I would have extra time in case I got lost.

The following answer was given for why only the second is correct:

The future perfect "represents that an action or
state will be completed at or before a certain time yet future." The
temporal point of reference is that set by the speaker/writer, who, by
beginning in the simple past, has marked that as the reference point for
determining futurity.


Can someone explain this to me? Where is the future perfect in this sentence? [:^)]


  

Top answer

I see no future perfect here. Both of your first two sentences seem fine and synonymous.

— Mister Micawber

  • I see no future perfect here.
  • Both of your first two sentences seem fine and synonymous.
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4 Answers
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I see no future perfect here. Both of your first two sentences seem fine and synonymous.
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Mister MicawberI see no future perfect here.

Nor do I...But the person who wrote this was Eric Walker...

Do you think would here is just used to show past in the future (past of will in this case)?
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Is he some sort of maven?

I presume you mean 'future in the past'. Yes, I think so.
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Yea, he is, lol.

Yes, sorry future in the past is what I meant to say.
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