 #2 (permalink) Thu Nov 20, 2008 23:32 pm If you saw the film, we could discuss it now. vs Had you seen the film, we co |
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Hi Roman
Both of your sentences are possible, but mean different things. Neither of your sentences fit any of the "usual" four IF-sentence formats.
| Quote: |
| 1) If you saw the film, we could discuss it now. |
The context for sentence 1 might be this, for example:
Perhaps you have already seen a particular film, but you believed that John had not yet seen it. John has now informed you that he did indeed see that particular film. He saw it last week. You might now say this to John:
"If (it is true that) you saw the film, we could discuss it now."
The IF-clause basically presents a past event as a fact, and the second half of the sentence is simply used to make a polite suggestion.
| Quote: |
| 2) Had you seen the film, we could discuss it now. |
The IF-clause in this sentence is the same as a "Type 3" conditional. That means that the speaker knows that you did not see the film. It is a fact that you did not see the film. Basically, in sentence 2 the speaker is simply theorizing about what would be possible now if the past had been different.
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Yankee
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| #3 (permalink) Fri Sep 11, 2009 21:26 pm If you saw the film, we could discuss it now. vs Had you seen the film, we could |
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Hi Yankee.
How awful.! I can't see you in the site anymore.
you were really helpful.
I wish to see you and your beautiful comments again.
hope to see you soon.
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 Richard
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