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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Relative clause in a type 2 condional

Sequence of tenses teaches that verbs in subordinate clauses have to follow the tense of the main verb.
1# If I told you the questions that I have in my mind, you would be surprised.
2# If I told you the questions that I had in my mind, you would be surprised.

Is the first of the two regarded as formal? Are there any differences in the messages they convey?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Sequence of tenses teaches that verbs in subordinate clauses have to follow the tense of the main verb. They don't. In #1, the speaker has questions in his/her mind at the time of speaking.

— Fivejedjon

  • Anonymous Sequence of tenses teaches that verbs in subordinate clauses have to follow the tense of the main verb.
  • They don't.
  • In #1, the speaker has questions in his/her mind at the time of speaking.
  • In #2, the questions may be in the speaker's mind at the time of speaking, or they may have been in his/her mind at an earlier time.
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9 Answers
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AnonymousSequence of tenses teaches that verbs in subordinate clauses have to follow the tense of the main verb.
They don't.

In #1, the speaker has questions in his/her mind at the time of speaking.
In #2, the questions may be in the speaker's mind at the time of speaking, or they may have been in his/her mind at an earlier time.
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fivejedjon AnonymousSequence of tenses teaches that verbs in subordinate clauses have to follow the tense of the main verb.They don't.In #1, the speaker has questions in his/her mind at the time of speaking.In #2, the questions may be in the speaker's mind at the time of speaking, or they may have been in his/her mind at an earlier time.
All right.
1# If
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AnonymousThe first sentence says that I still need the money.
Yes
AnonymousThe second sentence says that maybe I still need the money, or maybe I needed the money.
Your second interpretation is unlikely - If I had the money nww that I needed in the past, I would build in the future a hospital.
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fivejedjon AnonymousThe first sentence says that I still need the money.YesAnonymousThe second sentence says that maybe I still need the money, or maybe I needed the money.Your second interpretation is unlikely - If I had the money nww that I needed in the past, I would build in the future a hospital.
Does that mean I can't use the second sentence because it m
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No. It does make sense. It is just unlikely to have your second interpretation.
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fivejedjonNo. It does make sense. It is just unlikely to have your second interpretation.
Thanks.
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fivejedjonThey don't.
Sorry for straying, but why is it 'They don't'?
Sequence of tenses is singular, isn't it?
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Anonymouswhy is it 'They don't'?Sequence of tenses is singular, isn't it?
FiveJJ's remark refers to 'verbs', not 'sequence of tenses': verbs in subordinate clauses don't have to follow the tense of the main verb.
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Mister Micawber Anonymouswhy is it 'They don't'?Sequence of tenses is singular, isn't it?FiveJJ's remark refers to 'verbs', not 'sequence of tenses': verbs in subordinate clauses don't have to follow the tense of the main verb.
THANKS!!!
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