Past or Past Perfect Subjunctive?

Question

Hello. I've heard this kind of sentence sometimes.

"If I wanted to know it, I would've beaten the *** out of you!"
"If I didn't come here, No one would've come looking for me?"

In the two IF clauses, I think Past Perfect Subjunctive should be used because they are hypothetical about the past events. But In dramas, fiction and the like the structure is easy to find. When do you use Past Perfect Subjunctive or Simple Past Subjunctive?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

"If I had wanted to know it, I would've beaten the *** out of you!"
"If I hadn't come here, no one would've come looking for me.

Those are the correct usage.

Anonymous · Answer

So, is there ant difference? All the same?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

The ones you posted are not grammatically correct.
However, the English language in its evolution has been slowly losing the subjunctive inflections for a very long time. Perhaps in some future English, there will be accepted as OK.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIf I wanted to know it, I would've beaten the *** out of you!

I have observed a tendency to substitute the past for the past perfect in these conditional sentences when the verb is stative.
want is stative, so wanted was substituted for had wanted here even though had wanted is the correct form.

It's surprising how frequently we tell students that the past can substitute for the past perfect, but never use this explanation for this kind of conditional statement.

AnonymousIf I didn't come here, no one would've come looking for me?

come is not stative, so this one sounds wrong to me. It should be 'If I hadn't come', as already posted above. Just because something is wrong, or sounds wrong to some speakers, it doesn't mean that people won't use it anyway!

CJ

Enoon · Answer

Incidentally, I think you might have heard, "If I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you."

Past or Past Perfect Subjunctive?

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