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Yaronkadem Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Past sentences told in different ways

Hello Everyone,

I have a little question which I'm pretty sure would be answered thanks to you people.

And to the question.
I'm writing an article and I have a few tense issues which I'd like you to help with, all of those can be summarized to one question and here it is.

Is there any difference between the two fillowing lines?:

"if you added more memory cards to the servers"
"if you would have added more memory cards to the servers"

I know that in both cases the verb (added) is in the past but I'm not sure the meanings are identical.

Thanks again

Yaron
  

Top answer

) This one is a recommendation or advice for present or future action. The verb in the if-clause has the subjunctive mood: If you added more memory cards to the servers, they would perform more efficiently and you would be able to support more concurrent users. The present tense is also used, with the same meaning: If you add more memory cards to the servers, they would perform more efficiently and you would be able to support more concurrent users.

— AlpheccaStars

  • ) This one is a recommendation or advice for present or future action.
  • The verb in the if-clause has the subjunctive mood: If you added more memory cards to the servers, they would perform more efficiently and you would be able to support more concurrent users.
  • The present tense is also used, with the same meaning: If you add more memory cards to the servers, they would perform more efficiently and you would be able to support more concurrent users.
  • ) This one is a diagnosis of a past event.
  • The past perfect is used in the if-clause: If you had added more memory cards to the servers, your web site would not have rejected so many user connection requests.
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3 Answers
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yaronkadem"if you added more memory cards to the servers"
"if you would have added more memory cards to the servers"
A.) This one is a recommendation or advice for present or future action. The verb in the if-clause has the subjunctive mood:

If you added more memory cards to the servers, they would perform more efficiently and you would be
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yaronkademIs there any difference between the two fillowing lines?:

"if you added more memory cards to the servers"
"if you would have added more memory cards to the servers"
It's hard to analyze without the whole sentence.

The second one is clearly wrong. will and would never occur in if clauses except under a few s
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Thank you guys, I think I understand now.

I appreciate your answers

Yaron
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