Tense ? Help pl.

Hi, Would you please tell me which tense does "liked" show in the sentence given below, Present or past? Or even future?

Someone who liked John would probably love John's father.
What if it is replaced by "likes"?

Many thanks,

MSoni

---

MSoniSomeone who liked John would probably love John's father.

Good question! I'd call it present. (It's talking about the present time.)

It's hypothetical.

If you like John you will love his father. (present)
(Someone who likes John will love his father. This version is not hypothetical.)

The "like

Thanks a lot Avangi. I completely got it. Again thanks.

MSoniWould you please tell me which tense does "liked" show in the sentence given below, Present or past? Or even future?Someone who liked John would probably love John's father.

It's past tense, though it refers to general or future time.

MSoniSomeone who liked John would probably love John's father.

I'd say that "would love" refers to future time.

Probably, but not necessarily.

She likes John, so I expect she likes his father. Someone who liked John would probably love John's father.

You're right!

Very true fivejedjon sir. I got it. Tense is past ,though it refers to general or future time. Thanks a lot.

MSoni

Sir,

Would you please tell me the difference between these sentences:

1. What would the capital of Nigeria be?
2. What is the capital of Nigeria?

Many thanks

MSoni

The first is unnatural unless perhaps the speaker is trying to suggest that s/he knows what the capital of Nigeria is but has temporarily forgotten. Even then, it does not sound very natural.

The construction is more natural if the information requested could not be expected to be known:

A: I've thought of something we could do tomorrow.
B: Oh, and what would that