Conditional

[jack]

Scenario: I'm talking to someone on the phone. And she asks me for a ride.

Are these correct? If not, why? Which one should I use? Or it doesn't matter?
1. If you had called me earlier, I would drive you there. (Past action, present result?
2. If you called me earlier, I would drive you there. (Imaginary?)

Is #1 better suited for that scenario or #2?

Thanks.

[Tdol]

If you had called me earlier, I would have driven you there.

The mixed conditional doesn't work here for me.

[jack]

What about this?

Scenario: This is happening right now. She is talking to me on the phone and she asks me if I can give her a ride.

1. If you had told me earlier, I would drive you there. (Is this okay?)

So is this okay then:
2. If you had called me a couple minutes ago, I would give you a ride right now.

[neurobotanist]

Scenario: I'm talking to someone on the phone. And she asks me for a ride.

Are these correct? If not, why? Which one should I use? Or it doesn't matter?
1. If you had called me earlier, I would drive you there. (Past action, present result?
2. If you called me earlier, I would drive you there. (Imaginary?)

Is #1 better suited for that scenario or #2?

Thanks.

Hello, Jack,
I think neither response seems appropriate in the given scenario, but I could be wrong. No.1 would work, if it were under a different situation. (e.g. you see her the next day, and tell her, 'if you had called me earlier, I could have given you a ride')

Now, on second thoughts, no.2 could be correct also in your scenario, but I'm not too sure. 'If you called me earlier, I would be able to give you a ride, but unfortunately I can't do that right now, because I have other engagements...'

Could anyone else comment on this? thanks

neurobotanist

[Steven D]

If you had called me earlier, I would have driven you there.

The mixed conditional doesn't work here for me.

Hi,

How about this?


J - Can you give me a ride to the bus stop?

K - Well, I'm on my out to an appointment, and if I pick you up and drive you to the bus stop, I'll be late.

J - Okay, no problem. I'll just walk.

1-K - I wish I could help you out. You know, if you had called me earlier, I'd be able to give you a ride to the bus stop, but I just don't have the time. In fact, I have to leave right now.

or:

2-K - I wish I could help you out. You know, if you called me earlier, I would be able to give you a ride to the bus stop, but I just don't have the time. In fact, I have to leave right now.

J - Okay, - talk to you later.


The next day:

If you had called me earlier yesterday, I would've been able to give you a ride to the bus stop.

- make sense you?

I know I changed it around a bit, but it's basically the same.

K says, essentially, the same thing that Jack's examples say. If forms are given context and changed around a bit, they can end up making sense. I do, however, understand why the examples in isolation didn't work for you. I thought the same at first, but then gave a bit more consideration.

1. If you had called me earlier, I would drive you there. (Past action, present result?
2. If you called me earlier, I would drive you there. (Imaginary?)




And by the way, can you tell me how I can lose my addiction to the word "however"?