[Grammar] 'As he (swim) across that river...' Tenses

[barnej0096]

There's an example:
'As he (swim) across that river (get) cramp and (certainly drown) if John (not dive) in and (pull) him out.'
The answers are: was swimming, got, would have certainly drowned, didn't dive, pulled.
Why should I use past simple in the last 2 gaps? Isn't it the 3rd conditional? Is it incorrect to use: 'hadn't dived' 'pulled'?

 

[Grumpy]

I suggest either "As he was swimming across that river, he got cramp and would certainly have drowned if John had not dived in and pulled him out"; or "As he swam across that river, he got cramp and would certainly have drowned had not John dived in and pulled him out". You may pick and choose between these variations. There is no such word as "diven" [typo?] Sorry I can't help you with the technicalities....

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,


I was jarred (shocked a little bit) when I read:

"As he was swimming across that river, he got cramp ...."

I am 99.99% sure that native speakers here in the States would prefer:

He got a cramp [in the right leg?] and certainly ....

He got the cramps and certainly ....


James

 

[bhaisahab]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello,


I was jarred (shocked a little bit) when I read:

"As he was swimming across that river, he got cramp ...."

I am 99.99% sure that native speakers here in the States would prefer:

He got a cramp [in the right leg?] and certainly ....

He got the cramps and certainly ....


James

"As he was swimming across that river, he got cramp ...." is perfectly correct in BrE.