Search from various angielski teachers...
Mr Hahn
How do I identify whether the sentence is : Future in the Past / Possibility ?
i) If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said 'foster horses'.
ii) If I had you, life would be a party it'd be ecstasy.
iii) Based on this dialogue :
A : I guess, you better don't get to the office tomorrow.
B : But if the boss had called and asked me about the sale, what would I say then?Which sentence implies the Future in the past, and which implies the Possibility ..?
16 lis 2012 10:27
Odpowiedzi · 4
1
i) The 'Future in the Past' as you call it is the Past Unreal Conditional:
The rule for this is:
(If... past perfect..., would have + past participle)
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said 'foster horses'
ii) 'possibility' is the 'Imaginary Present' conditional
The rule for this is:
(If ... past simple..., would + base verb)
If I had you, life would be a party, it'd be ecstasy.
Your third point is not grammatically correct:
A : I guess, you better don't get to the office tomorrow.
B : But if the boss had called and asked me about the sale, what would I say then?
Perhaps it should be:
A: I guess, you better not go to the office tomorrow.
B: But if the boss calls and asks me about the sale, what will I say then?
B uses the first conditional form (connecting two future actions)
present simple......, will + base verb
If the boss calls and asks me about the sale, what would I say then?
This website may help: http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/english-conditionals-an-introduction.html
16 listopada 2012
Well, none of them actually have future in the past.
The first example is third conditional - a complete re-imagining of the past (ie. none of what is written actually happened).
The second example (which is badly written) is second conditional. This would fit the category of ''possibility'', but the possibility is unlikely... or at best, unsure.
The third example is very poorly written and unnatural. It's roughly ''possibiliity'', but the second conditional structure in it is a mess.
An example of ''future in the past'' would be in reported speech: ''He saıd he would see me tomorrow.''
16 listopada 2012
Nadal nie znalazłeś/łaś odpowiedzi?
Napisz swoje pytania i pozwól, aby rodzimi użytkownicy języka ci pomogli!
Mr Hahn
Znajomość języków
chiński (tajwański), angielski
Język do nauczenia się
angielski
Artykuły, które również mogą ci się spodobać

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
19 głosy poparcia · 16 Komentarze

How to Sound Confident in English (Even When You’re Nervous)
15 głosy poparcia · 12 Komentarze

Marketing Vocabulary and Phrases for Business English Learners
13 głosy poparcia · 6 Komentarze
Więcej artykułów
