past tense or future tense

Question

Which is correct and what is the difference?

If I die today, I won't know who won the game.
If I die today, I won't know who will win the game.

If I die, I won't know who won the game.
If I die, I won't know who will win the game.

Thanks

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The past tense is correct.

"I won't know who will win the game" is talking about a future event, looked at from the present time.

Your hypothetical looks at the future event from the vantage point of the future.

In order to know who won the game, the game must be in the past.
So you must live into the future, beyond the completion of the game.
At that time, the game will be in the past. (Who won.)

There are a lot of times involved here:
today (I might die)
the time of the game (later -- tomorrow?)
the time following the game (when we know who won)

Canadian45 · Answer

Both are possible; , the first one is the only likely one.

If I die today, I won't know who will win the game. probably because the game is tomorrow or some later time

If I die today, I won't know who won the game. This one requires some unlikely circumstances. For example, the game is today but the results won't be announced till later.

Anonymous · Answer

So Avangi, you would say the past tense and Canadian you would say the future tense?

Does adding 'today' change anything?

Canadian45 · Answer

AnonymousDoes adding 'today' change anything? Do you mean adding another 'today'?

If so, why do you want to further complicate the sentences by adding to them? And if you understand the original sentences, you should be able to answer your own question.

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousDoes adding 'today' change anything?

Yes, it does. As your sentence stands, there are several assumptions which make the time factors clear. "Today" is part of this. It's not necessary to say that the game is tomorrow or later. Our common sense assumes it.
But if you omit "today," all bets are off.

- A.

Canadian45 · Answer

AvangiIt's not necessary to say that the game is tomorrow or later. Our common sense assumes it. I don't agree with that, especially as far as students are concerned.. But more basically, we don't agree on which is the 'correct' or at least most likely sentence.

Avangi · Answer

canadian45Both are possible; , the first one is the only likely one.

More likely, the game is tomorrow; and if I die today, I'll miss the chance to learn who won it.

Canadian45 · Answer

AvangiMore likely, the game is tomorrow; and if I die today, I'll miss the chance to learn who won it.

'who wins it' is possible too. But since the game is in the future and the OP asked about choosing between 'won" and "will win", the latter seems more appropriate to me.

Avangi · Answer

I think I understand your position, canadian45, but it seems to me the only way we can know who will win, alive or dead, is when the fix is in.

Best regards, - A.

Grammarfreak · Answer

This is my two-cents worth. Syntactically, you are alive, therefore it is a counterfactual senario. That established, I would say: If I died (today), I would know who (has) won the game. ( The game was just over two hours ago).

In a slightly time frame, if the game is scheduled for tomorrow, then, the present tense makes more syntactical sense.
Example: If I die (today), I will never know who will win the game. (This is the most likely senario in my opinion)

Adding "today" does emphasize the present time more so than in general. So it depends on what was talked about in the previous context. If I talk about next year's Super Bowl contenders and wo is likely to be in the play off, then I will definitely use present-future construction: If I die (today), I will never know who is going to be in the play-off next year.
Hope this makes sense to you.

past tense or future tense

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions