Search found 194 matches

by Enigma
Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:13 am
Forum: Grammar
Topic: "Not" before verb in a simple tense
Replies: 8
Views: 28146

I don't think there would be an official rule, just an accepted pattern perhaps. It seems to sound right only when the negated phrase is parenthical and all that is included is the the verb, not any adverbials, complements, etc: 1. Some of the actors sang, not spoke, their lines. Correct 2. This pie...
by Enigma
Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:52 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

I said that if I were successful, I would already be rich.
[Backshifted 2nd conditional - unlikely/impossible condition referring to present-in-the-past.]
Yea, I was just unsure whether the rules apply to conditionals though (as well as to 'as if/as though').
by Enigma
Mon Mar 15, 2010 5:00 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

I said that if I were successful, I would already be rich. [Backshifted 2nd conditional - unlikely/impossible condition referring to present-in-the-past.] Before I ask him, I need to know why you call this a backshift to 2nd conditional. If a sentence were backsifted from 2nc conditional, it would ...
by Enigma
Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:49 am
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

I just received a third opinion on these conditionals. This opinion totally disagrees with our analysis of conditionals.

When I asked him what conditional this was (I was glad I had left early. If I got lost, I would have extra time.)
he said it was 2nd conditional, not first conditional. :evil:
by Enigma
Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:09 am
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Subjunctive and verb tenses
Replies: 9
Views: 21281

It is as if you had to give an interview after you lost/lose. It is as if you have to give an interview after you lose =habitual, present It was as if you had to give an interview after you lost =had could be a hypothetical or real tense verb. Context clears this up. It is as if you had to give an ...
by Enigma
Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:06 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

I was glad I had left early. If I got lost, I would have extra time. I was glad I had left early. If I was [subsequently] lost, I would have extra time. Yes, I would say it is a fair assumption to call these first conditionals, expressing a likely situation, in the past, but after the leaving (thus...
by Enigma
Sat Mar 13, 2010 5:02 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

And I still think we are not sure about the verb 'got' in this example, where we have the backshift. If it were the past subjunctive, then the conditional would have to be second conditional, not first. But then it can't be a past tense verb, because the verb refers to a time in the future. Or mayb...
by Enigma
Sat Mar 13, 2010 3:36 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Subjunctive and verb tenses
Replies: 9
Views: 21281

The verb in the subordinate clause should be had because of the rule applying to sequence of tense. The hypothetical interview occurs in an imaginary past, as does the hypothetical losing. Urgh, I don't know what made me think 'had' referred to the present. It clearly does not. But I don't think th...
by Enigma
Sat Mar 13, 2010 12:41 am
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Subjunctive and verb tenses
Replies: 9
Views: 21281

Subjunctive and verb tenses

The following sentence was posted on a forum. The question was whether the verb should be 'lost' or 'lose.' It is as if you had to give an interview after you lost/lose . The answer given (by a Teacher) was 'lost' and the reason being that 'lost' goes with 'had.' I don't understand neither why this ...
by Enigma
Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:47 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

Surely there is a definitive answer, at least among authoritative sources. I'll keep looking. Meanwhile, here is an answer/opinion I received from a respected teacher/grammarian: The tense of the main clause determines the tense of the result clause of the embedded conditional, and the tense of that...
by Enigma
Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:56 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

Well done for finding this. But before I think about this explanation too much, I think we have to decide which approach to consider: Reading further on this site you found, I noticed it explains that second conditionals and third conditionals also are backshifted in reported speech. But in the yout...
by Enigma
Fri Mar 12, 2010 1:15 am
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

And I still think we are not sure about the verb 'got' in this example, where we have the backshift. If it were the past subjunctive, then the conditional would have to be second conditional, not first. But then it can't be a past tense verb, because the verb refers to a time in the future. Exactly...
by Enigma
Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:35 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

And I still think we are not sure about the verb 'got' in this example, where we have the backshift.

If it were the past subjunctive, then the conditional would have to be second conditional, not first.

But then it can't be a past tense verb, because the verb refers to a time in the future.
by Enigma
Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:33 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

First conditional: Time: This condition refers either to present or to future time. Second conditional: Time: present; the TENSE is past, but we are talking about the present, now. This above is copied from a website. Isn't the above true--regarding what is said about the time expressed by the cond...
by Enigma
Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:52 pm
Forum: Grammar
Topic: Conditionals express what tense
Replies: 29
Views: 60392

This is why I think reported speech is relevant, as it necessarily involves a verb outside the conditional. I forgot to explain the distinction. The phone interrupted me, so my thought trailed off. I agree they both concern embedded conditionals, but is backshifting not confined to reported speech....

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