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Floralex Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

THAT or IF

Hello,

I can't find this in the dictionary.

How to say this:

How do you know which word to use?

- I'd prefer if/that you didn't have such a nice car.

- I'd prefer you not to have such a nice car.

- I'm guessing you'd prefer that/if I returned her to you safe and sound.

regrads
  

Top answer

floralex - I'd prefer if/that you didn't have such a nice car. - I'd prefer you not to have such a nice car. It strikes me as more casual with "if", and note that with "if" there is also usually a dummy "it".

— CalifJim

  • floralex - I'd prefer if/that you didn't have such a nice car.
  • - I'd prefer you not to have such a nice car.
  • It strikes me as more casual with "if", and note that with "if" there is also usually a dummy "it".
  • There are several ways of saying the same thing.
  • It's often not a matter of choosing the right word, but just of choosing the phrasing you like best.
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9 Answers
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floralex- I'd prefer if/that you didn't have such a nice car.
- I'd prefer you not to have such a nice car.
It strikes me as more casual with "if", and note that with "if" there is also usually a dummy "it". There are several ways of saying the same thing. It's often not a matter of choosing the right word, but just of choosing the phrasing you like best
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"I'd prefer that you don't/didn't have ...."

Is it acceptable to ignore the sequence-of-tense rule here and instead of "didn't have" use "don't have"?
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AnonymousIs it acceptable to ignore the sequence-of-tense rule here and instead of "didn't have" use "don't have"?
Yes. 'didn't have' makes it subjunctive, i.e., hypothetical, tentative.

CJ
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Thank you, CJ, for your useful reply.
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Thank you for your reply Califjim.

Flo
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Hello,

Following the sentences written by you above, I've tried writing this in the present, is this correctly used?

If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you not to pay for me.
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you didn't pay for me.
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer it if you didn't pay fo
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AnonymousI've tried writing this in the present, is this correctly used?

If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you not to pay for me.
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you didn't pay for me.
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer it if you didn't pay for me.

If you are go
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What is the different between

If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you didn't pay for me.
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you don't pay for me.

Shouldn't the subjunctive be used
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd rather you don't didn't pay.

Is this doable

If you are go
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Hi,

please help with it

What is the different between

If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you didn't pay for me.
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd prefer you don't pay for me.

Shouldn't the subjunctive be used
If you are going to bring it up every two minutes, I'd rather you don't didn't pay.
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