Why isn't the 3rd conditional used here?
Dear Users,
In an episode of the TV show "The Americans", after the death of his parents one of the characters says:
If I didn't go swimming, if I had been there...
I'm wondering why he's using the past simple tense at first (if I didn't...) and then he switches to the past perfect tense. As far as I know, we use the if + had/had not ... would/wouldn't have when we talk about past situations that can't be changed.
Top answer
Many native speakers are not able to form third conditionals correctly according to the textbook method. g. "if I didn't go" for "if I hadn't gone", and similar.
- Many native speakers are not able to form third conditionals correctly according to the textbook method.
- g.
- "if I didn't go" for "if I hadn't gone", and similar.
- Another very common variant in the UK is the "had have" combination.
- For example, "If I hadn't have gone swimming".
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Many native speakers are not able to form third conditionals correctly according to the textbook method. You will not uncommonly hear people saying e.g. "if I didn't go" for "if I hadn't gone", and similar. Another very common variant in the UK is the "had have" combination. For example, "If I hadn't have gone swimming". "would have" in the "if" clause is another non-standard form that I used
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