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Optimus Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Would - Conditional
- Hello. Could anyone tell me if the following sentences are grammatically correct, and if so, the difference in meaning?
(John has a test tomorrow.)
A. It wouldn't surprise me if John failed the test.
B. It wouldn't surprise me if John fails the test.
Thank you
(John has a test tomorrow.)
A. It wouldn't surprise me if John failed the test.
B. It wouldn't surprise me if John fails the test.
Thank you
Top answer
They look fine to me. A means that John already took the test, but the speaker doesn't know the result. B means that John hasn't taken the test yet.
- They look fine to me.
- A means that John already took the test, but the speaker doesn't know the result.
- B means that John hasn't taken the test yet.
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6 Answers
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They look fine to me.
A means that John already took the test, but the speaker doesn't know the result.
B means that John hasn't taken the test yet.
A means that John already took the test, but the speaker doesn't know the result.
B means that John hasn't taken the test yet.
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Thank you for your reply. I was wondering if A only applies to the event (test) in the past. For example, I think the following sentences can both apply to the future, no?
C. Would it be okay if I took a picture of you?
D. Would it be okay if I take a picture of you?
C. Would it be okay if I took a picture of you?
D. Would it be okay if I take a picture of you?
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A. It wouldn't surprise me if John failed the test.
I was wondering if A only applies to the event (test) in the past.
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No. It does not apply only to the past. It can apply to the future as well.
The same answer goes for the take/took a picture example.
With a dummy it that represents the following if
I was wondering if A only applies to the event (test) in the past.
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No. It does not apply only to the past. It can apply to the future as well.
The same answer goes for the take/took a picture example.
With a dummy it that represents the following if
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Hi, CalifJim.
Are you saying this?
If a sentence has a dummy if, are you saying both present and past verb forms can be used in the if-clauses? If a sentence does not have a dummy if but has an if that represents something, then the verb form in the if-clauses has to be the past form?
Any other cases in which both present and past verb forms can b
Are you saying this?
If a sentence has a dummy if, are you saying both present and past verb forms can be used in the if-clauses? If a sentence does not have a dummy if but has an if that represents something, then the verb form in the if-clauses has to be the past form?
Any other cases in which both present and past verb forms can b
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Dummy IT, not dummy IF!
It seems to me that sometimes the IF-clause is what the IT represents.
It would surprise me if Mike failed the exam.
is essentially
"if Mike failed the exam" would surprise me.
or
Mike's failure would surprise me.
I only make the observation that, in my opinion, speakers are less careful in these circumstan
It seems to me that sometimes the IF-clause is what the IT represents.
It would surprise me if Mike failed the exam.
is essentially
"if Mike failed the exam" would surprise me.
or
Mike's failure would surprise me.
I only make the observation that, in my opinion, speakers are less careful in these circumstan
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