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Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Third conditional
You wouldn't be in pain if you didn't wax your chest.
She would've killed me if she saw me.
I would've kissed her if she was there.
One of my native English friends uses the third conditional like this all the time. Can I use it too? Is it incorrect?
She would've killed me if she saw me.
I would've kissed her if she was there.
One of my native English friends uses the third conditional like this all the time. Can I use it too? Is it incorrect?
Top answer
The first one uses a correct second conditional construction. I consider the other two to be incorrect mixed conditionals. *She would've killed me (in the past) if she saw me (in the the future).
- The first one uses a correct second conditional construction.
- I consider the other two to be incorrect mixed conditionals.
- *She would've killed me (in the past) if she saw me (in the the future).
- *I would've kissed her (in the past) if she was there (in the future).
- They clearly make no sense.
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9 Answers
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The first one uses a correct second conditional construction. I consider the other two to be incorrect mixed conditionals.
*She would've killed me (in the past) if she saw me (in the the future).
*I would've kissed her (in the past) if she was there (in the future).
They clearly make no sense. Use the following.
She would have killed me (in the past)
*She would've killed me (in the past) if she saw me (in the the future).
*I would've kissed her (in the past) if she was there (in the future).
They clearly make no sense. Use the following.
She would have killed me (in the past)
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I wanted to know if other people used the third conditional that way.
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Yes, from my experience, it's quite common, but it doesn't conform to strict grammar. Some believe that just because a usage is common then it's right. I am not so permissive.
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I have another questions which isn't really related to the topic.
This is the weirdest thing I've ever done.
This is the weirdest thing I've done.
Does "ever" change the meaning?
This is the weirdest thing I've ever done.
This is the weirdest thing I've done.
Does "ever" change the meaning?
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This is the weirdest thing I've ever done.
This is the weirdest thing I've done.
The first one suggests it's the weirdest thing you've ever done in your entire life, while the other doesn't necessarily, e.g., the weirdest thing I've done [today].
This is the weirdest thing I've done.
The first one suggests it's the weirdest thing you've ever done in your entire life, while the other doesn't necessarily, e.g., the weirdest thing I've done [today].
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You wouldn't be in pain if you didn't wax your chest. - Does this mean that I'm in pain now because I wax my chest or that I will be in pain if I wax it?
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That's a second conditional, it means sth not true. So I think the sentence simply means you are in pain now because you did wax your chest. The latter you mentioned is the first conditional.
Correct me if i'm wrong
Correct me if i'm wrong
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