0
John liao Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Past unreal/real conditional?
If I'd got a job instead of going to university, I'd have enough money to buy a house.
Is the above sentence a real conditional sentence? It seems to be a unreal conditional sentence due to the meaning, but I am confused about the tense "past perfect plus would + present simple"
Is the above sentence a real conditional sentence? It seems to be a unreal conditional sentence due to the meaning, but I am confused about the tense "past perfect plus would + present simple"
Top answer
john liao If I'd got a job instead of going to university, I'd have enough money to buy a house. If I'd got a job instead of going to university, ( If I had got ... ) (but I didn't) ( Past time, Contrary to fact) I'd have enough money to buy a house.
- john liao If I'd got a job instead of going to university, I'd have enough money to buy a house.
- If I'd got a job instead of going to university, ( If I had got ...
- ) (but I didn't) ( Past time, Contrary to fact) I'd have enough money to buy a house.
- ( I would have ) (but I don't) ( Present time, Contrary to fact) When the clauses indicate different times, you have a "Mixed Conditional".
- CJ
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
john liaoIf I'd got a job instead of going to university, I'd have enough money to buy a house.If I'd got a job instead of going to university, (If I had got ...) (but I didn't) (Past time, Contrary to fact)
I'd have enough money to buy a house. (I would have) (but I don't) (Present time, Contrary to fact)
00
So,
If I'd got a job instead of going to university, I'd have had enough money to buy a house.
In which the difference is that the last sentence part contrary to the fact which has been happened -- past time, I didn't have enough money to buy a house some time ago but after I'd got a job ?
Another sentence comparing:
What would you have said if he'd asked you to go to In
If I'd got a job instead of going to university, I'd have had enough money to buy a house.
In which the difference is that the last sentence part contrary to the fact which has been happened -- past time, I didn't have enough money to buy a house some time ago but after I'd got a job ?
Another sentence comparing:
What would you have said if he'd asked you to go to In
00
john liaothe difference is that the last sentence part contrary to the fact which has been happened -- past time, I didn't have enough money to buy a house some time agoCorrect. I'd have enough money = I would have enough money now. I'd have had enough money = I would have had enough money then, at that time in the past.
john
0
Related Questions