0
Quebec62 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

What is the difference between these sentence?

Hi...
Could anybody tell me what is the difference between these sentences and is it grammatically correct?

1. If you asked me that same question 50 years ago, I still couldn't imagine the result as today.
2. If you had asked me that same question 50 years ago, I still couldn't imagine the result as today.

Many thanks
  

Top answer

There's no difference in meaning, and both are fine. We need to use the past perfect when you can't otherwise tell which order things occurred in. It's clear from the sentence that the question would have come before the inability to imagine today, so you can use simple past if you prefer.

  • There's no difference in meaning, and both are fine.
  • We need to use the past perfect when you can't otherwise tell which order things occurred in.
  • It's clear from the sentence that the question would have come before the inability to imagine today, so you can use simple past if you prefer.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
There's no difference in meaning, and both are fine.

We need to use the past perfect when you can't otherwise tell which order things occurred in.

It's clear from the sentence that the question would have come before the inability to imagine today, so you can use simple past if you prefer.

Related Questions