English Grammar

[Anonymous]

Please explain the difference between the following:

"IF I WERE THERE,I WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEIR INVITATION"

"IF I HAD BEEN THERE, I WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEIR INVITATION"

[RonBee]

The first one has to do with the present, and the second one has to do with the past.

(Say: "If I had been there I would not have accepted their invitation.")

:)

[Tdol]

The first could also refer to an unlikely future event.