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Future332 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Past Perfect vs. Past Simple

Hello,
I've just seen an American movie in which a man said:
"I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't believe in you."
My question is shouldn't he say "If I hadn't believed in you"
In my view, it's the 3rd conditional and there should be Past Perfect tense used instead of Past Simple.
Thank you in advance.
  

Top answer

" My question is shouldn't he say "If I hadn't believed in you" No, he doesn't have to say that. For one thing, the past often substitutes for the past perfect. , believe ).

— CalifJim

  • " My question is shouldn't he say "If I hadn't believed in you" No, he doesn't have to say that.
  • For one thing, the past often substitutes for the past perfect.
  • , believe ).
  • Besides, it's logical to assume that the speaker still believes in "you", so the mixed conditional that results is not particularly unreasonable in terms of its meaning.
  • CJ
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4 Answers
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future332"I wouldn't have brought you here if I didn't believe in you."
My question is shouldn't he say "If I hadn't believed in you"
No, he doesn't have to say that. For one thing, the past often substitutes for the past perfect. This substitution is fairly likely to happen even in third conditionals as long as the if-clause has a commonly used s
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Is it only spoken English or it'd be ok if I wrote it using past simple on the IELTS?
Thank you.
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future332Is it only spoken English or it'd be ok if I wrote it using past simple on the IELTS? Thank you.
Many tests defy simple logic or master in ambiguities so I've dropped them altogether in my self-teaching.
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future332Is it only spoken English or it'd be ok if I wrote it using past simple on the IELTS? Thank you.
I can't advise you about the IELTS, but to me it's everyday English, so it shouldn't be a problem.

CJ
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