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Tarkowsky Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

would have +past participle if +past perfect/simple past(?)

Hi,

Is this sentence correct?

As I listened to Ian (who now runs backstage) I kept wondering what I would have added to the debate if I was in his position during the recording.



I've been tought that I should follow this rule whereas a type III conditional is concerned. "I would have ".(I would have come to the concert if I hadn't been sick ).

Can I replace past perfect with simple past?



regards Cavillous

  

Top answer

was: informal were, had been : formal

— Marius Hancu

  • was: informal were, had been : formal
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3 Answers
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was: informal
were, had been: formal
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This situation is a little different than your type III conditional formula is intended for. The speaker is not in Ian's position, so the phrase is a "condition contrary to fact". In that situation a formal speaker or writer would use the subjunctive mood of the verb rather than indicative or imperative, so the phrase would read "...if I were in his position..." In the subjunctive mood there is
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...Can I replace past perfect with simple past?
In this situation, yes, but not generally. That substitution is very common with the verb to be.

What would you have done if you were there?
John would have spoken up if he [were / was] there.
If we were less lazy, we would have finished the job.

had beenis correct
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