0
Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Past/present

Let's say someone just wrote a post on this or any other forum and I want to comment on it.

Would the meaning be different if you had written(something)?
Would have the meaning been different if you had written(something)?
Would the meaning be different if you wrote(something)?

Which one is the best in such cases?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi, Strictly speaking, since they already posted something, the third conditional would be the best choice: Would the meaning have been different if you had written (something)? Still, native speakers usually prefer to utter short statements, even if they are not grammatically sound. The second conditional is therefore also likely to be used in such situations, although it may be regarded as "less correct": Would the meaning be different if you wrote (something)?

— Regards

  • Hi, Strictly speaking, since they already posted something, the third conditional would be the best choice: Would the meaning have been different if you had written (something)?
  • Still, native speakers usually prefer to utter short statements, even if they are not grammatically sound.
  • The second conditional is therefore also likely to be used in such situations, although it may be regarded as "less correct": Would the meaning be different if you wrote (something)?
  • There's no real difference between the two in this case.
  • Regards
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
Hi,

Strictly speaking, since they already posted something, the third conditional would be the best choice:

Would the meaning have been different if you had written (something)?

Still, native speakers usually prefer to utter short statements, even if they are not grammatically sound.

The second conditional is therefore also likely to be used in such situatio
0

Related Questions