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Conditional

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Optimus  #215458  Fri, 14 Apr 06 09:15 PM
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
  
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Muayad Jajo  #215466  Fri, 14 Apr 06 09:36 PM
If you’re on the right track, you would have passed a shopping mall by now.
  
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Grammar Geek  #215482  Fri, 14 Apr 06 10:10 PM

If you pass a shopping mall, then you have taken the correct exit.

  
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Pinenut  #215483  Fri, 14 Apr 06 10:10 PM
 Optimus wrote:
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:


"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.

If John had taken the right exit, he would see a mall at the end of the exit. This is what John means.



  
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