sb70012
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2013
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Persian
- Home Country
- Iran
- Current Location
- Iran
Future time:
1. Catherine: If I lost my job, I would be in serious trouble. (referring to a possible future situation)
Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble. (the reported words are true; she might still lose her job)
Catherine said that if she had lost her job, she would have been in serious trouble. (the reported words are out-of-date; it's not possible that she will lose her job)
Present time:
2. Paul: If I knew the answer, I'd tell you. (referring to an unreal present situation)
Paul said that if he knew the answer, he'd tell us.
Hi,
I have problem understanding or comparing the red part with the blue part.
The structures are same. Is there any clue to recognize if it refers to future or present?
I mean:
Number 1 has used "lost" and number 2 has used "knew"
Number 1 has used "would" and number 2 has used "would"
How or from what aspect number 2 refers to present but number 1 refers to future?
Is there any clue to tell us which one refers to future and which one refers to present?
I see no difference between 1 and 2.
I mean the structures of number 1 and 2 are same.
Then why 1 refers to future but 2 refers to present?
How should we detect if it refers to present or future?
Both 1 and 2 have same structures then why 1 refers to future and 2 refers to present?
Source: http://www.grammaring.com/second-con...ndirect-speech
Thank you
1. Catherine: If I lost my job, I would be in serious trouble. (referring to a possible future situation)
Catherine said that if she lost her job, she would be in serious trouble. (the reported words are true; she might still lose her job)
Catherine said that if she had lost her job, she would have been in serious trouble. (the reported words are out-of-date; it's not possible that she will lose her job)
Present time:
2. Paul: If I knew the answer, I'd tell you. (referring to an unreal present situation)
Paul said that if he knew the answer, he'd tell us.
Hi,
I have problem understanding or comparing the red part with the blue part.
The structures are same. Is there any clue to recognize if it refers to future or present?
I mean:
Number 1 has used "lost" and number 2 has used "knew"
Number 1 has used "would" and number 2 has used "would"
How or from what aspect number 2 refers to present but number 1 refers to future?
Is there any clue to tell us which one refers to future and which one refers to present?
I see no difference between 1 and 2.
I mean the structures of number 1 and 2 are same.
Then why 1 refers to future but 2 refers to present?
How should we detect if it refers to present or future?
Both 1 and 2 have same structures then why 1 refers to future and 2 refers to present?
Source: http://www.grammaring.com/second-con...ndirect-speech
Thank you
Last edited: