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Wutwut Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Use of tense
Hi.
Is the use of tense in this next sentence incorrect?
"He could have kept his dog and he probably would have been much happier that way."
What about this way?
"He could have kept his dog and he probably would be much happier that way."
Basically I'm wondering if you can use two different tenses in one sentence (I'm not sure if what I'm referring to is actually a tense problem, but I think it is).
If I use 'could have', does that mean that I have to stick with 'would have' rather than would be in that sentence?
Or do both sentences mean different things because they're referring to different points in time, and are therefore both correct at least as far as use of 'would be' and 'would have' goes?
Thanks
Is the use of tense in this next sentence incorrect?
"He could have kept his dog and he probably would have been much happier that way."
What about this way?
"He could have kept his dog and he probably would be much happier that way."
Basically I'm wondering if you can use two different tenses in one sentence (I'm not sure if what I'm referring to is actually a tense problem, but I think it is).
If I use 'could have', does that mean that I have to stick with 'would have' rather than would be in that sentence?
Or do both sentences mean different things because they're referring to different points in time, and are therefore both correct at least as far as use of 'would be' and 'would have' goes?
Thanks
Top answer
Hi. I think the first sentence is correct but not really natural. " I assume that he was not allowed to keep that dog.
- Hi.
- I think the first sentence is correct but not really natural.
- " I assume that he was not allowed to keep that dog.
- The second sentence does not sound correct to me.
- Prajwal
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3 Answers
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Hi.
I think the first sentence is correct but not really natural. How about this:
"He probably would have been much happier if he could have kept his dog."
I assume that he was not allowed to keep that dog.
The second sentence does not sound correct to me.
Prajwal
I think the first sentence is correct but not really natural. How about this:
"He probably would have been much happier if he could have kept his dog."
I assume that he was not allowed to keep that dog.
The second sentence does not sound correct to me.
Prajwal
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Here are some different versions:
1) event in the past, consequences in the past.
a) He would have been much happier had he kept his dog.
b) If he could have kept his dog, he would have been much happier.
2) event in the past, present day consequences
a) He would be much happier now had he kept his dog.
b) If he could have kept his dog, he w
1) event in the past, consequences in the past.
a) He would have been much happier had he kept his dog.
b) If he could have kept his dog, he would have been much happier.
2) event in the past, present day consequences
a) He would be much happier now had he kept his dog.
b) If he could have kept his dog, he w
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Thanks AlpheccaStars, your sentence are much better than mine.
Regards,
Prajwal
Regards,
Prajwal
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