Optimus Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Conditional
Hello.
Suppose you're giving directions to John. He's almost near the destination, but he doesn't know if he took the right exit.
At the end of the right exit is a shopping mall. So here's the question:
What statement would convey the above information?
I know the following sentence is not correct because it implies a past unreal condition:
If you had taken the right exit, you would have passed a shopping mall.
But how about this statement:
If you took the right exit, you would have passed a shopping mall.
It still seems to me the above sentence suggests the driver in fact took the wrong exit, since the sentence has a form of the present unreal conditional. I don't know if he took the right exit, so it could either be a real or unreal condition.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Suppose you're giving directions to John. He's almost near the destination, but he doesn't know if he took the right exit.
At the end of the right exit is a shopping mall. So here's the question:
What statement would convey the above information?
I know the following sentence is not correct because it implies a past unreal condition:
If you had taken the right exit, you would have passed a shopping mall.
But how about this statement:
If you took the right exit, you would have passed a shopping mall.
It still seems to me the above sentence suggests the driver in fact took the wrong exit, since the sentence has a form of the present unreal conditional. I don't know if he took the right exit, so it could either be a real or unreal condition.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Top answer
If you’re on the right track, you would have passed a shopping mall by now.
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If you’re on the right track, you would have passed a shopping mall by now.
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If you pass a shopping mall, then you have taken the correct exit.
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OptimusHello.
Suppose you're giving directions to John. He's almost near the destination, but he doesn't know if he took the right exit.
At the end of the right exit is a shopping mall. So here's the question:
"I am not sure if I took the right exit. There is supposed to be a mall at the end of the exit, but I don't see it," John says.
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