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verb tense question

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by Geva@EconomistGMAT » Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:36 am
Ikonik wrote:I'm thinking up some... hope I'm not far from correct

- if the money were available with the company, the policies would be different today.
correct - uses were with would

- if I were not so rich, I would have learnt to work hard long ago (here I use would have, is 'were' correct).
Incorrect - uses were (cond. II) with would+have (cond. III)

- If my cat were not so lazy, he would be healthier today
Correct - uses were with would

- If my cat were not so lazy, he would have caught some mice around here? (would have)
Incorrect - for the same reason above.
Confused :(
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by Ikonik » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:53 am
Geva@MasterGMAT wrote: Care to tell us what's the problem with each version?
If I were a rich man, I would have bought a house.
If I were a rich man, I would buy a house.

I would have bought the house, If I were rich enough
I would buy the house, if I were rich enough

I will buy the house, If I were rich enough
I will buy the house, if I am rich enough (?)

What about these:
- if the money were available with the company, the policies would be different today. (I think correct)
- if I were not so rich, I would have learnt to work hard long ago
(maybe it should be - If I had not been so rich, I would have learnt to...)
- If my cat were not so lazy, he would be healthier today (i think correct)
- If my cat were not so lazy, he would have caught some mice around here? (would have)
(I think it should be: If my cat had not been so lazy, he would have... )

Thanks :D
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by Night reader » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:06 am
Ikonik wrote:
Geva@MasterGMAT wrote: Care to tell us what's the problem with each version?
If I were a rich man, I would have bought a house.
If I were a rich man, I would buy a house.

I would have bought the house, If I were rich enough
I would buy the house, if I were rich enough

I will buy the house, If I were rich enough
I will buy the house, if I am rich enough (?)

What about these:
- if the money were available with the company, the policies would be different today. (I think correct)
- if I were not so rich, I would have learnt to work hard long ago
(maybe it should be - If I had not been so rich, I would have learnt to...)
- If my cat were not so lazy, he would be healthier today (i think correct)
- If my cat were not so lazy, he would have caught some mice around here? (would have)
(I think it should be: If my cat had not been so lazy, he would have... )

Thanks :D
everything is cleared except for three points

if I were not so rich, I would have learnt to work hard long ago SHOULD BE if I were not so rich, I would learn to work hard long ago (Present Unreal Condition, I'm reach-I don't learn...)

If I had not been so rich, I would have learnt to (Past Unreal Condition, I was not reach-I didn't learn...)

If my cat were not so lazy, he would be healthier today - Style problem, healthier than~comparative form, better
If my cat were not so lazy, he would be healthy today.

If my cat were not so lazy, he would have caught some mice around here? incorrect (would have)
(I think it should be: If my cat had not been so lazy, he would have... ) <-- the same as above with Present vs. Past Unreal Conditions
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