What if
I searched the whole house twice looking for my cat, but he is nowhere to be found. (1) What if he got out?/(2) What if he had gotten out?
I would like to know the difference in the meaning between (1) and (2).
1. What if he got out?
2. What if he had gotten out?
Top answer
( 2) is correct. It describes a possibility in the past. ( 1) describes a future possibility or hypothetical situation.
- ( 2) is correct.
- It describes a possibility in the past.
- ( 1) describes a future possibility or hypothetical situation.
- What if the lion escaped from the zoo?
- Would you be afraid?
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( 2) is correct. It describes a possibility in the past.
( 1) describes a future possibility or hypothetical situation.
What if the lion escaped from the zoo? Would you be afraid?
0Email Removed">Email Removed2. What if he had gotten out?
This is an example of American English using gotten while got would be used in British English.
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