0
Systemet Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Third conditional questions
I've been wondering - what is the correct version of a third conditional question?
E.g. If you had bought a car, what would the make have been? or
If you had bought a car, what would have been the make?
The first one sounds artificial to me and the second one comes naturally, but I am not sure if the order is not incorrect anyway. Maybe it is just a matter of what is stressed. I've been hearing and reading all the possible language variations in the world in recent years and now I am a bit confused as to usage at times. This one deals with the placement of object, if I understand it right.
I do not have such doubts with such ones as :
If you had been an actor, where would you have been working/have worked?
I do not think there is any room for order variations here? It is easier, imho, because the subject in both sentences is the same. In the first sentence I left it out.
E.g. If you had bought a car, what would the make have been? or
If you had bought a car, what would have been the make?
The first one sounds artificial to me and the second one comes naturally, but I am not sure if the order is not incorrect anyway. Maybe it is just a matter of what is stressed. I've been hearing and reading all the possible language variations in the world in recent years and now I am a bit confused as to usage at times. This one deals with the placement of object, if I understand it right.
I do not have such doubts with such ones as :
If you had been an actor, where would you have been working/have worked?
I do not think there is any room for order variations here? It is easier, imho, because the subject in both sentences is the same. In the first sentence I left it out.
Top answer
Both versions of your first sentence are fine— or 'what would have the make been?. Placement of the subject ('make') after the first element of a verb phrase is more usual but not demanded. Your other sentence cannot be re-ordered around 'where' because 'where' is an adverb, not a subject.
- Both versions of your first sentence are fine— or 'what would have the make been?.
- Placement of the subject ('make') after the first element of a verb phrase is more usual but not demanded.
- Your other sentence cannot be re-ordered around 'where' because 'where' is an adverb, not a subject.
- '
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
Both versions of your first sentence are fine— or 'what would have the make been?. Placement of the subject ('make') after the first element of a verb phrase is more usual but not demanded.
Your other sentence cannot be re-ordered around 'where' because 'where' is an adverb, not a subject. Nevertheless, there is room for 'where would've you worked/been working?'
Your other sentence cannot be re-ordered around 'where' because 'where' is an adverb, not a subject. Nevertheless, there is room for 'where would've you worked/been working?'
00
Thank you Mr M,
So the option that seemed less likely to me is more common...hmh... should I take that this one, 'what would have the make been, is more common in casual speech, whereas the other ones are more common in writing? Or is it just a matter of stress? For me it sounds really really odd with this one..
And the second one, the contracted form is pretty much informal, r
So the option that seemed less likely to me is more common...hmh... should I take that this one, 'what would have the make been, is more common in casual speech, whereas the other ones are more common in writing? Or is it just a matter of stress? For me it sounds really really odd with this one..
And the second one, the contracted form is pretty much informal, r
0
Related Questions