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Why we use "borrowed" and don't use "borrow" in this sentence? "would you mind if I borrowed your pen?"
Hi everybody
Why do we use "borrowed" and don't use "borrow" in this sentence? "would you mind if I borrowed your pen?" 
And what is the tense of this sentence?
Jul 23, 2019 4:47 PM
Comments · 4
3
There are multiple acceptable variations.

May I borrow your pen? (polite request)

Will it be OK if I borrow your pen? (type 1 conditional - not polite enough for most situations)

Would it be OK if I borrow your pen? (mixed conditional - conditional "would" of politeness)

Would it be OK if I borrowed your pen? (type 2 conditional of politeness - not a true type 2 for an unreal situation)



More examples:

Will your brother Joe be upset if I borrow his bicycle without permission? (type 1 conditional - real situation - I am thinking about taking his bicycle)

Would your brother Joe be upset if I borrowed his bicycle without permission? (type 2 conditional - unreal situation - I am not thinking about taking his bicycle)

Would your brother Joe have been upset if I had borrowed his bicycle without permission yesterday? (type 3 conditional - unreal past situation)
July 23, 2019
1
minor correction - Why DO we use "borrowed" ...

This is a type 2 conditional.

July 23, 2019
Actually it should be borrow. For instance can I borrow your pen. Do you mind if I borrow your pen. Borrowed is past tense
July 23, 2019
Oh, thanks Chris, you're right
July 23, 2019