if what’s happened to me had happened to you

Status
Not open for further replies.

suprunp

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
‘Well, I bet you’d be in a temper if what’s happened to me had happened to you. As a matter of fact I’m in a damned awkward situation, and if any of you fellows can give me any advice how to deal with it I’d be grateful.’
(W.S. Maugham; The Facts of Life)

Is it possible to say "if what's happened to me happened to you."?

Thanks.
 

philo2009

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2009
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
Why ever should it not be??
 

suprunp

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
Why ever should it not be??

I would think that the speaker tried to convey a different thought than I would by saying "if what's happened to me happened to you", and, therefore, it would not be possible to say so in this particular situation.

Did he suggest that what had happened to him could have never happened to them?

Thanks.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
I doubt if speakers in that situation in real life would be over-particular about tenses, but, if they were, any of the following would be possible.

I bet you’d be in a temper if what happened to me happened to you.
I bet you’d be in a temper if what has happened to me happened to you.
I bet you’d be in a temper if what happened to me had happened to you.
I bet you’d be in a temper if what has happened to me had happened to you.

In the first two, the speaker is thinking of a something happening in the future to his audience; in the second two, of something happening in the past.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top