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MarvinTheMartian Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Which tense to use?

I can't make up my mind which tense to use in the following sentence:

"If it hadn't been for the remarkable opening passage, I would have assumed that the recital would be / have been a bore.

I've seen both tenses used in similar constructions. Is it safe to assume that both options are correct in this case? If not, is there a logical way of determining which tense should be used? If possible, could you give me some examples?
  

Top answer

It is 'would be a bore' That sounds like a past and possibilty. I think you can use 'have been a bore' in below. If it was not for the remarkable opening passage, I could assume that the recital would have been a bore.

— BW2/3

  • It is 'would be a bore' That sounds like a past and possibilty.
  • I think you can use 'have been a bore' in below.
  • If it was not for the remarkable opening passage, I could assume that the recital would have been a bore.
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2 Answers
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It is 'would be a bore' That sounds like a past and possibilty.

I think you can use 'have been a bore' in below.

If it was not for the remarkable opening passage, I could assume that the recital would have been a bore.
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MarvinTheMartianI can't make up my mind which tense to use in the following sentence:

"If it hadn't been for the remarkable opening passage, I would have assumed that the recital would be / have been a bore.

I've seen both tenses used in similar constructions. Is it safe to assume that both options are correct in this case? If not, is there
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