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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
That clause in Unreal conditional: Is vs. Was
A. If I chose to pay thru phone, would the agent that is going to assist me ask for my details?
B. If I chose to pay thru phone, would the agent that was going to assist me ask for my details?
1. Which of the sentences above is correct?
2. In unreal conditionals, should all the verbs in the main and that clause be in the past tense like sentence B above?
Thank you for your advice.
B. If I chose to pay thru phone, would the agent that was going to assist me ask for my details?
1. Which of the sentences above is correct?
2. In unreal conditionals, should all the verbs in the main and that clause be in the past tense like sentence B above?
Thank you for your advice.
Top answer
Both versions are completely understandable, but B is "more correct" for the reasons you mentioned. It maintains the sequence of tenses. Strangely, though, I think I would say A.
- Both versions are completely understandable, but B is "more correct" for the reasons you mentioned.
- It maintains the sequence of tenses.
- Strangely, though, I think I would say A.
- I don't know why.
- Go figure.
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5 Answers
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Both versions are completely understandable, but B is "more correct" for the reasons you mentioned. It maintains the sequence of tenses.
Strangely, though, I think I would say A. I don't know why. Go figure.
Strangely, though, I think I would say A. I don't know why. Go figure.
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1)
Example A would be correct if you change it to:
If + present tense + future form
If I choose to pay over the/by phone, would the agent that is going to assist me ask for my details?
Example B would be correct if you change it to:
If + past tense + would
If I chose to pay over the/by phone, would the agen
Example A would be correct if you change it to:
If + present tense + future form
If I choose to pay over the/by phone, would the agent that is going to assist me ask for my details?
Example B would be correct if you change it to:
If + past tense + would
If I chose to pay over the/by phone, would the agen
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Thank you, CJ and networkenglish, for your responses.
networkEnglish,
networkEnglish,
networkenglish1)I'm a bit confused here, don't you think this is somewhat i
Example A would be correct if you change it to:
If + present tense + future form
If I choose to pay over the/by phone, would the agent that is going to assist me ask for my details?
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AnonymousCJ,No.
Would you agree with networkEnglish on this?
AnonymousDo you think this could be a difference between American English and British English?No. I think both varieties are the same for the purposes of this sentence.
CJ
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