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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:13 am Post subject: if |
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| Quote: |
1.If I had lived here for three years, I would know it better.
2.If I lived here for three years, I would know it better.
3.If I have lived here for three years, I would know it better. |
Which is correct and why?
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Mary W. Ng
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 261
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: if |
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| Quote: |
1.If I had lived here for three years, I would know it better.
2.If I lived here for three years, I would know it better.
3.If I have lived here for three years, I would know it better. |
Only 2 is correct. The past tense is used in the if-clause (protasis) to express a condition that is contrary to fact.
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Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com |
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: if |
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| Mary W. Ng wrote: |
| Quote: |
1.If I had lived here for three years, I would know it better.
2.If I lived here for three years, I would know it better.
3.If I have lived here for three years, I would know it better. |
Only 2 is correct. The past tense is used in the if-clause (protasis) to express a condition that is contrary to fact. |
As usual, all it takes is a story for the context....
I can't accept number 3. But I can see how number 1 would work. The story goes like this:
John is visiting Chicago with his friend. His friend thinks John used to live in Chicago for 3 years. His friend is confused because John doesn't seem to know his way around. His friend says something like, "After all John, you lived here for three years. You should know your way around." And John says, "If I had lived here for three years, I would know it better."
It is possible to use the "if" clause with a past perfect, meaning a contrary to fact idea in the past, with a second clause that is not past, as the above story illustrates. |
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