EngLearner
Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Ukrainian
- Home Country
- Ukraine
- Current Location
- Ukraine
Peter borrowed a car from John, and the car’s engine broke down because he was driving at high speed. Peter paid for the repairs, and the car is fine now, but the whole situation caused John a lot of headaches. Peter tells his friend that he needs a car again next week and that he might need to borrow John's car again. Peter's friend responds with the following:
1. If you hadn't been driving at such a high speed, the engine wouldn't have broken down, and the chances of John lending you his car, if you were to ask him to next week, would be much higher.
2. If the engine hadn't broken down, and John wasn't angry with you now, the chances of him lending you his car, if you were to ask him to next week, would be much higher.
In #1, the high speed driving led to the engine problem, which in turn negatively affects Peter's likelihood of borrowing John's car next week.
In #2, John is now angry with Peter because of what happened to the car's engine, which in turn negatively affects Peter's likelihood of borrowing John's car next week.
Is my reasoning correct, and are the tenses in bold correct in these complex conditional sentences that mix the logic of the third and second conditional?
1. If you hadn't been driving at such a high speed, the engine wouldn't have broken down, and the chances of John lending you his car, if you were to ask him to next week, would be much higher.
2. If the engine hadn't broken down, and John wasn't angry with you now, the chances of him lending you his car, if you were to ask him to next week, would be much higher.
In #1, the high speed driving led to the engine problem, which in turn negatively affects Peter's likelihood of borrowing John's car next week.
In #2, John is now angry with Peter because of what happened to the car's engine, which in turn negatively affects Peter's likelihood of borrowing John's car next week.
Is my reasoning correct, and are the tenses in bold correct in these complex conditional sentences that mix the logic of the third and second conditional?
