[Grammar] In 1979 ... if you walk on the streets of New York, you might’ve come across ...

[kadioguy]

(In the movie Master Sheng Yen)

Narrator:
In 1979, 2535 years after Sakyamuni passed away, in the chilly early spring, if you walk on the streets of New York, you might’ve come across a tall and thin, middle-aged Buddhist monk with black-rimmed glasses. His name was Sheng Yen. He was drifting around in the city, sometimes not having enough to eat. He was often on the streets. Some people might think that was the least respectable time of his life.

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Should "walk" be "walked"? Because it was in the past.

What do you think?
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(Source) 0:01-0:50

 

[tzfujimino]

(In the movie Mater Sheng Yen)

That must be a typo.

 

[emsr2d2]

Should "walk" be "walked"? Because it was in the past.

Yes, or "if you had walked ...". In fact, the latter is better before "... you might've come across".

 

[kadioguy]

Yes, or "if you had walked ...". In fact, the latter is better before "... you might've come across".

a. If you walked on the streets of New York, you might’ve come across a tall and thin monk.

b. If you had walked on the streets of New York, you might’ve come across a tall and thin monk.
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Sentence (a) is a mixed structure. (*1)

Sentence (b) is a third conditional sentence.


(*1) Practical English Usage 3rd

262.4 mixed tenses

Sometimes a simple past tense is used with if where a past perfect would be normal. This is more common in American English.

If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake.

If I had the money with me I would have bought you one.

If I didn't have my walking boots on I think I would have really hurt my foot.
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Are these right?

 

[5jj]

Not in BrE.

 

[SoothingDave]

It seems to be expressing habitual behavior to me, so "walk" is OK.

 

[tedmc]

It seems to be expressing habitual behavior to me, so "walk" is OK.

I thought a habitual action in the past requires the simple past tense to be used instead of the present.

 

[kadioguy]

I thought a habitual action in the past requires the simple past tense to be used instead of the present.

If you don't mind, could you tell me why you used "I thought" rather than "I think"? Does that mean "when I saw your comment, I thought ..."?

 

[tedmc]

My thought was along that line until I read about the "new revelation", which made me rethink.

 

[kadioguy]

My thought was along that line until I read about the "new revelation", when made me rethink.

Did you mean "which"? What is "the 'new revelation'"? :-?

 

[tedmc]

Yes.
The revelation that the simple present tense can be used in the past.

 

[kadioguy]

The revelation that the simple present tense can be used in the past.

Could you please tell me more about that? :-?

 

[tedmc]

Could you please tell me more about that? :-?

The statement in Post #6 is new to me (and you too, I suppose).

 

[kadioguy]

The statement in Post #6 is new to me (and you too, I suppose).

I think that we need him or other native speakers to tell us more on that. :-?

 

[5jj]

Let's get back to the original question.

1. If you walk on the streets of New York, you may/might’ve come across a tall and thin, middle-aged Buddhist monk with black-rimmed glasses.
This is grammatical. The meaning is If it is your habit to walk ... , then it is possible that at some time during your walks you have come across ...
There is a real possibility that you do walk.

2. If you walked on the streets of New York, you might’ve come across a tall and thin, middle-aged Buddhist monk with black-rimmed glasses.
This is grammatical. The meaning is If it was your habit to walk ... , then it is possible that at some time during your walks you came across ...
There is a real possibility that you did walk.

3. If you had walked on the streets of New York, you might’ve come across a tall and thin, middle-aged Buddhist monk with black-rimmed glasses.
This is grammatical. The meaning is If it had been your habit to walk ... , then it is possible that at some time during your walks you would have come across...
You did not walk. The idea of your walking is presented as an irrealis situation.

 

[tedmc]

1. If you walk on the streets of New York, you may/might’ve come across a tall and thin, middle-aged Buddhist monk with black-rimmed glasses.
This is grammatical. The meaning is If it is your habit to walk ... , then it is possible that at some time during your walks you have come across ...
There is a real possibility that you do walk.

That is a hypothetical situation you have described (like the first conditional), but in the original post, the scene was set specifically in the year 1979 though. Does the present tense of the verb still fit into a scene from the past?

 

[5jj]

That is a hypothetical situation you have described (like the first conditional),

It is not really like the first conditional. This sentence presents a general time protasis and a past time apodosis.

but in the original post, the scene was set specifically in the year 1979 though. Does the present tense of the verb still fit into a scene from the past?

Not unless the narrator is using a historic present form.

 

[kadioguy]

[...] Not unless the narrator is using a historic present form.

The narrator doesn't seem like using the historic present, so "walk" isn't appropriate there.

Is that right?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I thought a habitual action in the past requires the simple past tense to be used instead of the present.

Not if you're still doing it. Lots of people who walked around New York in '79 still do it today.

Nonetheless, I would have said "walked," as Kadio suggests. It would include more walkers.

 

[tedmc]

Not if you're still doing it. Lots of people who walked around New York in '79 still do it today.

Nonetheless, I would have said "walked," as Kadio suggests. It would include more walkers.

I like your short and clear explanation.
But I see no reason why the writer would want to relate the scene in 1975 which he described in intricate detail, to people who are around 46 years later (the present, 2021).