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Agnieszka Millward Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Tricky conditionals...
As much as I try I can't understand why these conditionals are incorrect...
These conditionals I found in 'Focus on Advanced English C.A.E' and I think my problems
may have something to do with the function of 'were' in subjunctive, but I'm not sure...
You would have enjoyed yourself if you were there.
(Unreal condition in the present with an unreal past result)
If I weren't driving slowly, he could have been hurt
(Unreal condition in the present with an unreal past result)
I believe these two are mixed conditionals following the same logic as this sentence which I know to be correct....
If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have let him look after the baby.
(Unreal present condition with unreal past result)
I can't get my head around the differences!
These conditionals I found in 'Focus on Advanced English C.A.E' and I think my problems
may have something to do with the function of 'were' in subjunctive, but I'm not sure...
You would have enjoyed yourself if you were there.
(Unreal condition in the present with an unreal past result)
If I weren't driving slowly, he could have been hurt
(Unreal condition in the present with an unreal past result)
I believe these two are mixed conditionals following the same logic as this sentence which I know to be correct....
If I didn't trust him, I wouldn't have let him look after the baby.
(Unreal present condition with unreal past result)
I can't get my head around the differences!
Top answer
I think your problems are to be found elsewhere, not in your understanding of were . I believe the exercise wants you to consider mixed conditionals incorrect. You would have enjoyed yourself if you were had been there.
- I think your problems are to be found elsewhere, not in your understanding of were .
- I believe the exercise wants you to consider mixed conditionals incorrect.
- You would have enjoyed yourself if you were had been there.
- If I weren't hadn't been driving slowly, he could have been hurt.
- ______________ were often substitutes for had been in this kind of conditional, but I think that the authors of that exercise don't want you to consider that.
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3 Answers
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I think your problems are to be found elsewhere, not in your understanding of were. I believe the exercise wants you to consider mixed conditionals incorrect.
You would have enjoyed yourself if youwere had been there.
If Iweren't hadn't been driving slowly, he could have been hurt.
______________
were often substitutes f
You would have enjoyed yourself if you
If I
______________
were often substitutes f
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aha,
So would you say these are valid mixed conditionals?
So would you say these are valid mixed conditionals?
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