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Newguest Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Tense (was/had been)
Hi
If that was his plan, he did it well.
If that had been his plan, he did it well.
--- I would use the 1st one, but on the other hand I think the 2nd one makes sense too. He had his plan before he did something.
Thanks
If that was his plan, he did it well.
If that had been his plan, he did it well.
--- I would use the 1st one, but on the other hand I think the 2nd one makes sense too. He had his plan before he did something.
Thanks
Top answer
Greetings, Newguest, the first one makes sense, obviously, as its very structure suggests the chain of events: first, he made a plan, second, he carried it out. The second one brings perfect past, which is not necessary, since the sequence of events is all too obvious. Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
- Greetings, Newguest, the first one makes sense, obviously, as its very structure suggests the chain of events: first, he made a plan, second, he carried it out.
- The second one brings perfect past, which is not necessary, since the sequence of events is all too obvious.
- Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
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6 Answers
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Greetings, Newguest,
the first one makes sense, obviously, as its very structure suggests the chain of events: first, he made a plan, second, he carried it out. The second one brings perfect past, which is not necessary, since the sequence of events is all too obvious.
Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
the first one makes sense, obviously, as its very structure suggests the chain of events: first, he made a plan, second, he carried it out. The second one brings perfect past, which is not necessary, since the sequence of events is all too obvious.
Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff
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Hi
But "if that had been ..." part doesn't suggest that it "hadn't been his plan"? Taking this into consideration, does the 2nd sentence make sense at all?
But "if that had been ..." part doesn't suggest that it "hadn't been his plan"? Taking this into consideration, does the 2nd sentence make sense at all?
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From the viewpoint of reality/unreality, the second sentence faces serious criticism. The first part, taken by itself, resembles a conditional clause referring to unfulfilled past - but, understood in this way, it contradicts the main part, as you have noticed. Therefore, we would be correct in saying that no interpretation of the second sentence can be justified.
Respectfully, Gleb Cheb
Respectfully, Gleb Cheb
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