conditionals

[panicmonger]

Hi, morning .


1. I have taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving licence, just in case he is to continue to cause trouble and needed to be tracked down.

2. I had taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving licence, just in case he were to continue/continued to cause trouble and needed to be tracked down.

Are they all correct?

To me, the 2nd sentence refers to hypothetical future, whereas the 1st sentence expresses that there is some chance that he will continue to cause trouble.

What do you say? Please feel free to correct me if wrong.
Thank you.

[Nightmare85]

***Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.***

Are you sure that your example sentences are correct anyway?
They look strange to me.
I would write them this way:
1)
I have taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving license, just in case he continues to cause trouble and needs to be tracked down.

2)
I had taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving license, just in case he continued to cause trouble and needed to be tracked down.

I guess both sentences can be used, of course depending on the situation.

I'm waiting for any response

P.S: Licence is also correct, don't worry

Cheers!

[bhaisahab]

***Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.***

Are you sure that your example sentences are correct anyway?
They look strange to me.
I would write them this way:
1)
I have taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving license, just in case he continues to cause trouble and needs to be tracked down.

2)
I had taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving license, just in case he continued to cause trouble and needed to be tracked down.

I guess both sentences can be used, of course depending on the situation.

I'm waiting for any response

P.S: Licence is also correct, don't worry

Cheers!

"Licence" is definitely correct. "License" is only correct in AmE, not in AusE, not in Indian English, not in BrE. So the Americans are in a minority.

[Nightmare85]

"Licence" is definitely correct. "License" is only correct in AmE, not in AusE, not in Indian English, not in BrE. So the Americans are in a minority.

Okay, you win.

Cheers!

[Pedroski]

1. I have taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving licence, just in case he is continues to continue to cause trouble and needed to be tracked down. (I would use 'needs' not 'needed', but it can stay if you like)


2. I had taken the precaution of taking down the details of Simon's driving licence, just in case he (were to continue)/ ( or he continued) to cause trouble and needed to be tracked down.

The details have been taken down, in 1) and 2), there is nothing hypothetical there. Both are hypothetical after 'just in case' = 'if it should be the case'. In 1) we don't know, if he continues to cause trouble, and in 2) we don't know whether or not he continued to cause trouble.

[riquecohen]

Instead of using taking down, I would use noting or recording to avoid repeating the verb take. In Am. Eng. it is also correct to say "I took the precaution...," using the simple past.