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I would have gone there if.

Posted by Smokey Stover on August 29, 2004

In Reply to: I would have gone there if. posted by James Briggs on August 29, 2004

: : : : Hello,
: : : : Could anyone tell me if I get this right.
: : : : I tried to write to a friend whom I planned to visit but something had gotten in the way.

: : : : "*I would have gone *there if my mom didn't cancel the trip.
: : : : Or
: : : : "*I would have been *" there if my mom didn't cancel the trip.
: : : : Thank you like always

: : : They are both ok.
: : : Either sentence can be used.

: : There's a problem with the verb later in the sentence. It should say "if my mom hadn't canceled the trip."

: The 'didn't' versions sound very wrong to UK ears. The 'hadn't' is so much better.

Bergie and Dr. Briggs are both right about the second sentence. With a past conditional in the first clause, the second pretty much calls for the past perfect. The first sentence is more problematic. I tried to write (simple past)... whom I planned to visit (dependent clause; simple past, but past perfect also okay, especially in the upshot, which is that he did not, in fact, visit). The second independent clause--something had gotten--implies with the past perfect something which is not stated, namely, that something had happened before I tried to write. Barring some explanation, I would expect a simple past in this clause. Is that as clear as mud? SS

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