Are these sentences natural? October 5

[musicgold]

Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. I would appreciate it if you gave me some headsup on your travel plan.

2. Without getting stuck in Cliché, I would just call it the way it is. (I expressed my opinion on what should be the title of a news item)

3. What time will that be? ( some one said they would call me after they landed at an airport, so I asked that question)

Thanks,
MG.

 

[billmcd]

Hi,

Are the following sentences natural to a native ear?

1. I would appreciate it if you gave me some headsup on your travel plan. Depends on what you mean. You used future possibility (would) with simple past (gave). You could say, "I would have appreciated it if you had given (OR "gave" would be OK) me some headsup.......", meaning the person never notified you of their travel plan and you would have liked to have known about it. OR "I would appreciate it if you would give me some headsup.....", meaning you would expect info on their plan and the travel hasn't occurred yet.

2. Without getting stuck in Cliché, I would just call it the way it is. (I expressed my opinion on what should be the title of a news item) OK

3. What time will that be? ( some one said they would call me after they landed at an airport, so I asked that question) OK

Thanks,
MG.

b.

 

[5jj]

1. I would appreciate it if you gave me some headsup on your travel plan. Depends on what you mean. You used future possibility (would) with simple past (gave). You could say, "I would have appreciated it if you had given (OR "gave" would be OK) me some headsup.......", meaning the person never notified you of their travel plan and you would have liked to have known about it. OR "I would appreciate it if you would give me some headsup.....", meaning you would expect info on their plan and the travel hasn't occurred yet.

musicgold's tense usage is correct in BrE and, as far as I know, in AmE. It is a second conditional sentence expressing a diffident request.

'I would have appreciated it if you had given ... " is a correct third conditional expression, denoting a past counterfactual situation.

'I would have appreciated it if you gave...' is incorrect.

'I would appreciate it if you would give me ..' is, despite what some books say, acceptable.

 

[billmcd]

1. I would appreciate it if you gave me some headsup on your travel plan. Depends on what you mean. You used future possibility (would) with simple past (gave). You could say, "I would have appreciated it if you had given (OR "gave" would be OK) me some headsup.......", meaning the person never notified you of their travel plan and you would have liked to have known about it. OR "I would appreciate it if you would give me some headsup.....", meaning you would expect info on their plan and the travel hasn't occurred yet.

musicgold's tense usage is correct in BrE and, as far as I know, in AmE. It is a second conditional sentence expressing a diffident request.

'I would have appreciated it if you had given ... " is a correct third conditional expression, denoting a past counterfactual situation.

'I would have appreciated it if you gave...' is incorrect.

'I would appreciate it if you would give me ..' is, despite what some books say, acceptable.

Well, I can’t get my head around the mix of tenses in mg’s example. As in my post, I think it depends on what the speaker intends to imply. Either the “appreciation” happens in the present or in the past. If in the past, I have to go with a construction of a past unreal condition (“would have appreciated”) with simple past (“gave”) or past perfect (“had given”). But I understand your points.

 

[SoothingDave]

The word "cliche" is not capitalized. "Travel plans" is normal in AmE.