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Moon7296 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

subjunctive/ conditional clause

1. How would you feel if I were to offer you Sales Director position in Seoul?
2. How would you feel if I offer you Sales Director position in Seoul?

Q1) Does #1 mean the same as #2?
  

Top answer

They both offer the same idea, but #2 should be "How will you feel... in order to keep the sequence of tenses in conditional sentences correct. Some people see a clear difference in "intent" between the first level and second level of conditional sentences, but context really is the deciding factor.

— Philip

  • They both offer the same idea, but #2 should be "How will you feel...
  • in order to keep the sequence of tenses in conditional sentences correct.
  • Some people see a clear difference in "intent" between the first level and second level of conditional sentences, but context really is the deciding factor.
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9 Answers
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They both offer the same idea, but #2 should be "How will you feel... in order to keep the sequence of tenses in conditional sentences correct. Some people see a clear difference in "intent" between the first level and second level of conditional sentences, but context really is the deciding factor.
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moon72961. How would you feel if I were to offer you the Sales Director position in Seoul?
The modal preterite counterpart is

How would you feel if I offered you the Sales Director position in Seoul?
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Aspara Gusmodal preterite
Just checking the terminology. I assume that besides the 'modal preterite' there is also a 'preterite' or maybe 'plain preterite'. Is that true?

I offered you the position. "plain" preterite?
If I offered you the position, you would .... modal preterite?

CJ
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Aspara GusThe modal preterite counterpart isHow would you feel if I offered you the Sales Director position in Seoul?
How is 'offered' a modal preterite?

(Sorry CJ - I missed your post)
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CalifJimI assume that besides the 'modal preterite' there is also a 'preterite' or maybe 'plain preterite'. Is that true?
‘Ordinary preterite’ (or ‘plain preterite’, if you prefer) contrasts with ‘modal preterite’ or ‘backshifted preterite’, which are regarded as special uses of the preterite. (‘Preterite’ is just a fancy term for ‘past tense’.)
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Aspara GusIn if I offered you the position, offered is called a modal preterite because the meaning has to do with modality rather than past time.
Oh, people are catching up with me at last.

I have been saying for years that past-time is not the primary function of the so called 'past' tense in English. I have long gone with Joos (who was writing on
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Aspara Guscontrasts with ‘modal preterite’ or‘backshifted preterite’
Is that 'alternation or'? Either it's true or it's false.
Or is that 'definitional or'? This aspect is known as progressive or continuous.

CJ
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CalifJimIs that 'alternation or'? Either it's true or it's false.Or is that 'definitional or'? This aspect is known as progressive or continuous.
Alternation or.
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Aspara GusAlternation or.
OK. Thought so. Just checking. Emotion: yes

Note: I have heard the b
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