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Owais_K
Is there any specific condition to use past tense after "if",
or
past tense must be used after "if" whenever it comes in the sentence.
Experts, please elucidate...
Mar 19, 2021 2:22 PM
Answers · 2
2
For the general case, there are five basic conditionals as briefly explained here:
https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/conditional/
Also, reported speech changes the verb tenses as briefly explained here:
https://www.ef.com/ca/english-resources/english-grammar/tense-changes-when-using-reported-speech/
Now an example:
type 1 conditional - real present/future situation
Sue: "If I study hard for the next two weeks, I will pass the exam."
Reported speech - real present/future situation at a given moment in the past.
Sue said that if she studied hard for the following two weeks, she would pass the exam."
- - -
March 19, 2021
2
I think.you are talking about the 'second conditional', talking about an unreal.situation now.
If + past tense would + base verb
If I had Soyeon's phone number, I would ask her to dinner.
If I earned more money, I would buy a Ferrari.
You can replace would with other modals.. In those sentences, could and might work.
March 19, 2021
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Owais_K
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, German, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), English, German, Korean, Spanish
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