If you've decided to go on a trip in an old clunker and it's broken down, you need to find Ukrainians

[Tony_M]

Hello.

The dialogue is mine.

A1: Would you dare to go on a trip with your friend in an old clunker?
B1: Sounds like a fascinating adventure, but I don't know what I'll do if the clunker breaks down. I'm really bad at fixing cars, and I haven't got any mechanics among my friends.
A2: If you've decided to go on a trip in an old clunker, and it's broken down, you need to find Ukrainians, convince them to help you repair the clunker or steal a new one, and then leave your friend with them to work off the debt.
B2: Great plan; that's what friends are for.

Are the tenses in A2 correct?

Thank you.

 

[PeterCW]

I am afraid that I didn't get beyond the racism.

 

[Tony_M]

I am afraid that I didn't get beyond the racism.

Is it better now?

 

[emsr2d2]

Is it better now?

It's less unacceptable now but that's solely because you're Ukrainian and we can assume that you are being amusingly self-deprecating about people who share your nationality. I recommend you remove mention of any particular nationality or group of society. A2 could simply say "If your car breaks down, find someone who's willing to fix it, then leave your friend with them to work off the debt". That way, you're only making fun of yourself (your willingness to leave your friend behind).

 

[Tony_M]

It's less unacceptable now but that's solely because you're Ukrainian and we can assume that you are being amusingly self-deprecating about people who share your nationality. I recommend you remove mention of any particular nationality or group of society. A2 could simply say "If your car breaks down, find someone who's willing to fix it, then leave your friend with them to work off the debt". That way, you're only making fun of yourself (your willingness to leave your friend behind).

Can I use the present perfect?

 

[Tarheel]

Hello.

The dialogue is mine.

A1: Would you dare to go on a trip with your friend in an old clunker?
B1: Sounds like a fascinating adventure, but I don't know what I'll do if the clunker breaks down. I'm really bad at fixing cars, and I haven't got any mechanics among my friends.
A2: If you've decided to go on a trip in an old clunker, and IT BROKE down, you WOULD need to find Ukrainians, convince them to help you repair the clunker or steal a new one, and then leave your friend with them to work off the debt.
B2: Great plan; that's what friends are for.

Are the tenses in A2 correct?

[..........]

It's fine now.

 

[emsr2d2]

Can I use the present perfect?

Are you asking if you can change "If your car breaks down" to "If your car has broken down"?

 

[Tony_M]

Are you asking if you can change "If your car breaks down" to "If your car has broken down"?

I'd like to use the present perfect twice:
- If you've decided to go on a trip in an old clunker, and it's broken down, find somebody who...

 

[Tarheel]

The trouble with that sentence is deciding to do something doesn't mean you're doing it. I might say:
I was driving to Kiev when my car broke down.

Making decisions is something that happens in your head. You could say:
I decided to go to Kiev. On the way there my car broke down.

Clearly, you acted on that decision by getting in the car and heading to Kiev. I guess that didn't help much with your grammar exercise. Sorry.

 

[Tony_M]

Sorry, I don't understand. My idea is to use the present perfect to emphasize two completed actions:

- If you've [indeed] decided to go on a trip in an old clunker, and it's [indeed] broken down, find somebody who...

Those two things have already happened; you're standing next to the clunker, and you literally don't know what to do. The result clause of this conditional should act as a piece of advice: if those two are true already, follow the plan outlined in the result clause.

 

[jutfrank]

I don't understand what you're asking. You're saying that your idea is to use the present perfect. Do you want us to tell you whether it's a good idea? Is that it?

 

[Tony_M]

I don't understand what you're asking. You're saying that your idea is to use the present perfect. Do you want us to tell you whether it's a good idea? Is that it?

Well, yes, I asked about the present perfect in post #5. Nobody answered.

 

[jutfrank]

Can you use it? Why would you ask such a question? Why are you not asking whether you should use it?

(Yes, you can.)

 

[Tony_M]

Can you use it? Why would you ask such a question? Why are you not asking whether you should use it?

(Yes, you can.)

Should I use it?

 

[jutfrank]

No. Always think to look for the best way to say what you mean. And please stop asking if things are 'correct'. At your level, you should be way beyond that. If anything you say is ever not correct, you can be sure someone here will let you know.

There's no need for retrospection. Use the present simple.