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Marcin Jajko Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Sentences transformation - could anybody explain me some things?
Hi,
I'm taking an English exam tomorrow. Right now I'm solving the papers that were given to students last year and I need your help to ensure either I'm right or not.
We need to use the word in bold to transform the sentence so that both of them will have the same meaning.
"You have passed your driving test, Jack! Well done!" said Carol.
CONGRATULATED
Carol____________________his driving test.
The right answer is, of course: Carol congratulated Jack on passing his driving test. But I'm wondering whether such a sentence: Carol congratulated Jack on having passed his driving test is correct?
Another sentence is:
I wouldn't have finished it without his help.
FOR
If it_______________________his help, I wouldn't have finished it.
My first thought was: If it wasn't for his help, ..., and that's alright. But it turns out that another answers were marked as correct ones:
- hadn't been for
- weren't for.
I know why weren't for is OK - it's just like in the conditionals, where we can say, i.e.: if she was/were friendly, she would have more friends. I can't, however, figure out, why hadn't been for is also OK. Could anybody explain it to me?
Please, help me. I'm really confused.
I'm taking an English exam tomorrow. Right now I'm solving the papers that were given to students last year and I need your help to ensure either I'm right or not.
We need to use the word in bold to transform the sentence so that both of them will have the same meaning.
"You have passed your driving test, Jack! Well done!" said Carol.
CONGRATULATED
Carol____________________his driving test.
The right answer is, of course: Carol congratulated Jack on passing his driving test. But I'm wondering whether such a sentence: Carol congratulated Jack on having passed his driving test is correct?
Another sentence is:
I wouldn't have finished it without his help.
FOR
If it_______________________his help, I wouldn't have finished it.
My first thought was: If it wasn't for his help, ..., and that's alright. But it turns out that another answers were marked as correct ones:
- hadn't been for
- weren't for.
I know why weren't for is OK - it's just like in the conditionals, where we can say, i.e.: if she was/were friendly, she would have more friends. I can't, however, figure out, why hadn't been for is also OK. Could anybody explain it to me?
Please, help me. I'm really confused.
Top answer
Has the person finished 'it' or not? If yes, then the event is in the past. Consider: If it wasn't/weren't for all this homework that I have to do , I'd go with you.
- Has the person finished 'it' or not?
- If yes, then the event is in the past.
- Consider: If it wasn't/weren't for all this homework that I have to do , I'd go with you.
- This is Present Tense hypothetical.
- But your hypothetical is in the past .
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7 Answers
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Has the person finished 'it' or not?
If yes, then the event is in the past.
Consider:
If it wasn't/weren't for all this homework that I have to do, I'd go with you.
This is Present Tense hypothetical.
But your hypothetical is in the past.
The correct construction is
If yes, then the event is in the past.
Consider:
If it wasn't/weren't for all this homework that I have to do, I'd go with you.
This is Present Tense hypothetical.
But your hypothetical is in the past.
The correct construction is
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TerryxpressThe correct construction is If it hadn't been for all his help, I wouldn't have finished it.I'm not sure if I understand you properly. Do you think that the only possible and correct way to complete the sentence is actually If it hadn't been... ? If so, I'm puzzled - that three constructions given in my first post were marked as correct and
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See
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/condition2a.html
Go half way down and find the heading
Present & Past Hypotheticals
Expression – If it hadn't been for
Note the difference between a hypothetical in the present, and one in the past.
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/condition2a.html
Go half way down and find the heading
Present & Past Hypotheticals
Expression – If it hadn't been for
Note the difference between a hypothetical in the present, and one in the past.
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OK, now I understand. Thanks a lot for your help. Now everything is perfectly clear. Thank you once again.
I don't want to be annoying but what about my first question?
I don't want to be annoying but what about my first question?
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OK, thanks a lot. (BTW I have no idea how to edit the previous post...)
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My fault. I had to post the first part of my answer, to get back to re-read the second question, and then come back with my reply and edit my post.
Note: There is a short time-limit on being able to edit; but after you select Post, and your reply appears, look at the bottom right, and to the left of the box saying 'reply': you will see a star-sharped design. Click on that, and it gives yo
Note: There is a short time-limit on being able to edit; but after you select Post, and your reply appears, look at the bottom right, and to the left of the box saying 'reply': you will see a star-sharped design. Click on that, and it gives yo
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Your help is priceless. Thanks for that "technical" advice as well.
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