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Lamjin Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Tense problem?
Where would that hard work have gotten them if they didn’t have backers with deep pockets, or if they didn’t know people in high places?
Above the sentence, how come the tense used in the subordinate clause is simple past tense instead of past perfect tense ?
thanks in advance!
Above the sentence, how come the tense used in the subordinate clause is simple past tense instead of past perfect tense ?
thanks in advance!
Top answer
Hi, Iamjin, Of course it may be an error, but assuming it's used intentionally and advisedly I take it the author wishes to imply that having these backers is an ongoing or continuing condition. I take it as a corrupted subjunctive (conditional). Where would his good looks have gotten him were he not the son of a former president?
- Hi, Iamjin, Of course it may be an error, but assuming it's used intentionally and advisedly I take it the author wishes to imply that having these backers is an ongoing or continuing condition.
- I take it as a corrupted subjunctive (conditional).
- Where would his good looks have gotten him were he not the son of a former president?
- If he were (was) not the son of a former president, his good looks would not have gotten him anywhere.
- - A.
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2 Answers
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Hi, Iamjin,
Of course it may be an error, but assuming it's used intentionally and advisedly I take it the author wishes to imply that having these backers is an ongoing or continuing condition. I take it as a corrupted subjunctive (conditional).
Where would his good looks have gotten him were he not the son of a former president?
If he were (was) not the son of a former
Of course it may be an error, but assuming it's used intentionally and advisedly I take it the author wishes to imply that having these backers is an ongoing or continuing condition. I take it as a corrupted subjunctive (conditional).
Where would his good looks have gotten him were he not the son of a former president?
If he were (was) not the son of a former
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You are technically correct, that it should be, " Where would that hard work have gotten them if they hadn't had backers with deep pockets, or if they hadn't known people in high places?" That is better English. Sometimes writers are sloppy, but this is fairly acceptable in terms of style these days. Stick with what you know; you're right!
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