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Icadia Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Tense in a sub clause in If clause

There are some sentences I found in understanding and using english grammar (by Azar) on page 419.
These sentences is about using tense in a sub clause in a conditional sentence

Question 1.
Your friend was in the hospital, you didn't know that, so you didn't visit her.
Answer : If I had known she was in the hospital I would have visited her.

When I saw this sentence, I couldn't decide if backshift was necessary in the sub clause in If clause. But It seems that backshift isn't necessary here from the answer (she was in the hospital)

Question 2.
I've never met your friend. you didn't know that so you didn't introduce me.
Answer: If I had known You'd never met my friend, I would have introduce you.

This sentence was a little confusing. Frankly, I think "I have" in the Question2 should be replaced with "I had" because the speaker is referring to an action before a past time, so I am not sure if backshift is applied.

Question 4.
Your friend's parents are in town. you didn't know that, so you didn't invite them to dinner.
Answer : If I had known my friend's parent were in town, I would have invited them to dinner.

This sentence is very interesting. From the Question, we know that the parents are still live in town. nevertheless, backshift is applied? What if using the present tense here? Would it be possible? or Would it make a difference to the meaning?

Thanks for reading my lengthy questions. I will be waiting for your answers.
  

Top answer

Hi Icadia Question 1. Answer : If I had known she was in the hospital I would have visited her. Was is appropriate if you want to say that you would have visited her while she was in the hospital.

— Yankee

  • Hi Icadia Question 1.
  • Answer : If I had known she was in the hospital I would have visited her.
  • Was is appropriate if you want to say that you would have visited her while she was in the hospital.
  • If you use "had been" instead of "was", then you would be saying that you would have visited her after she left the hospital.
  • Question 2.
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5 Answers
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Hi Icadia

Question 1.
Answer : If I had known she was in the hospital I would have visited her.

Was is appropriate if you want to say that you would have visited her while she was in the hospital.

If you use "had been" instead of "was", then you would be saying that you would have visited her after
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You have basically three choices after "If I had known (that)".

If I had known (that)

1 you [would be / were going to be] at the party

2 you were at the party

3 you had been at the party


I would have ...
________________________

1 The subordinate clause is "posterior", i.e., a
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Ok... thanks.
you both helped me

I have additional questions. These may be similar to my question above.

Questions.

Jane is Max's love.

Max is alcoholic at present.
Max : If she found out I was alcoholic, Would she be disappointed with me?

Max has been alcoholic.
Max: If she found out I had been alcoholic, Would she be shocked?
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... at present.

If she found out I was alcoholic, Would would she be disappointed with me?

... has been ... (implies still is at present)

If she found out I had been was alcoholic, Would would s
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I really appreciate your answer CJ.
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