Questions tagged [imaginary-situations]
The imaginary-situations tag has no usage guidance.
19 questions
0
votes
1
answer
37
views
If a giant asteroid were/was heading towards our planet, many people would tell each other that humanity were/was facing an imminent threat. - which?
Example 1
If a giant asteroid were/was heading towards our planet, many people would tell each other that humanity were/was facing an imminent threat.
I know verb should be back-shifted in a ...
- 2,337
0
votes
0
answers
110
views
'WOULD' usage for present tense when it isn't used in conditionals?
I read 'We use would (’d) / wouldn’t when we imagine a situation or action (= we think of something that is not real)' this explanation in the book English Grammar in Use on page no. 72
I hear many ...
- 650
4
votes
3
answers
698
views
Perfect fit for a grammatical error
Yesterday, I had an exam in which this objective type question was asked.
Select the most appropriate option that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
She wished she __ ...
- 485
1
vote
1
answer
217
views
Imaginary sentence in the past
Which of the following sentences are correct
If X killed a few of them, that would be a headline for weeks in the west.
If X had killed a few of them, that would be a headline for weeks in the west.
...
- 8,989
0
votes
1
answer
26
views
Whether using present or past simple in the imaginary past event
I might have thought she __ not able to speak, if I had not heard
her singing.
It's just a made-up sentence, please apologize if it doesn't make sense. Anyway, if only if I have to choose between is ...
- 5,104
1
vote
1
answer
104
views
he knows what a big responsibility it would be / he knew what a big responsibility it would be
He never had pets because he knows what a big responsibility it would be.
If I understand correctly, "it would be" is strongly connected with "he knows". Or "it would be"...
- 2,370
1
vote
1
answer
41
views
Can the following sentence (without if) be regarded as a conditional type 2 sentence?
I was wondering if the following question can be regarded a conditional sentence of the 2nd type:
To hear some men talk, you'd think that women belonged to a different
species!
In fact the sentence ...
- 169
1
vote
0
answers
46
views
If I took the test and failed, it would (have) be/been a waste of time
Let’s say I’m talking to a fellow student about whether or not we should take a certain test this semester or the next semester. We haven’t started to study for the test, so thus far no time has been ...
- 178
1
vote
2
answers
477
views
Imaginary situation in the future
Let’s say I want to describe an imaginary scenario in the future. Which of these two sentences is better and more idiomatic?
It would be better if she said I could never talk to her again.
It would ...
- 178
1
vote
0
answers
100
views
Using ‘would have’ for an impossibility in the future
In DC’s Titans (season 3 episode 1), Barbara said to Dick that she was helping “whoever Bruce would have recruited next”.
I know intuitively that ‘would have’ can be used in relation to the present or ...
- 178
0
votes
1
answer
44
views
How to say you did an action before imagining it
Consider this sentence:
If you asked me this question some decades ago, I might answer “Yes or perhaps”
I guess it's wrong and the correct must be:
if you would have asked me this question some ...
- 8,989
0
votes
1
answer
329
views
In what situation do you use "must" in a question?
https://benesse.jp/teikitest/chu/english/english/c00276.html
https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/en/%E2%80%9CMust+you+go+now%3F%E2%80%9D+%E2%80%9CYes%2C+I+must.%E2%80%9D/
Here are some example sentences....
- 1,518
0
votes
2
answers
805
views
This is not what I thought it was vs This is not what I expected
Suppose that person A closes their eyes. Next, person B gives something to touch. After that, person A must guess what the object is is after touching it. After person A opens their eyes, A says
&...
- 255
-1
votes
1
answer
175
views
When to use "If I was (or If I were to)" vs "If I was(or if I was to)" vs If I have to [closed]
I want to know in what circumstances, I will use these forms
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
We did not have a holiday last year
We did not have holiday last year
(source ......)
What is the meaning of this sentence i think it can be-(1) we did not receive holiday last year or (2)we did not spend a holiday last year
0
votes
2
answers
214
views
Can we use tenses as we normally do to tell the listener the timings of the imaginary events?
When we talk about an imaginary scenario, can we use tenses as we normally do to tell the listener the timings of the imaginary events?
By the way, do different subjects like those in the examples (a ...
- 2,337
0
votes
1
answer
183
views
Should hypothetical situations always be written in the past tense?
Example sentence:
I could follow her to find out what she does, but I risked coming off as a stalker.
I think I heard somewhere that hypothetical situations should always be written in the past ...
- 7,235
0
votes
0
answers
114
views
Mixing tenses in an imaginary discussion
Relative topic I posted last time:Tense usage in an imaginary discussion
This time, I have some questions about "what if an imaginary situation is something mixing up different times"
I believe many ...
- 2,337
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Tense usage in an imaginary discussion
When I chat with friends, we often come up with imaginary situations.
What type of tense should be used in the case?
Question:
Can I just keep everything in simple present tense like "...
- 2,337