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Debpriya De Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Unreal conditional
"I wouldn't consult you, if I didn't know that you were a doctor."
This is definitely an unreal conditional sentence talking about the present.
But I feel that this sentence can convey two different meanings.
1. I know that you are a doctor, that's why I am consulting you.
2. I know that you were a doctor in the past, that's why I am consulting you.
Which is the right interpretation of this sentence ?
This is definitely an unreal conditional sentence talking about the present.
But I feel that this sentence can convey two different meanings.
1. I know that you are a doctor, that's why I am consulting you.
2. I know that you were a doctor in the past, that's why I am consulting you.
Which is the right interpretation of this sentence ?
Top answer
#1.
- #1.
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2 Answers
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Yes, by default it should be #1.
But if you need a sentence to convey meaning #2, try this.
"I wouldn't consult you, if I didn't know that you had been a doctor."
But this is a bit ambiguous too. It treats "being a doctor" as (an) experience. So, borrowing a rule for reported speech
But if you need a sentence to convey meaning #2, try this.
"I wouldn't consult you, if I didn't know that you had been a doctor."
But this is a bit ambiguous too. It treats "being a doctor" as (an) experience. So, borrowing a rule for reported speech
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