Hi,
What's the difference between these two conditionals?
1. If you didn't follow as I say, I would call the police.
2. If you don't follow as I say, I would call the police.
Appreciate if someone could explain on this, thank you.
Regards,
Jeeva
Neither is natural.
If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police.
If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.
Grammar Geek wrote: Neither is natural. If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police. If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.
Yes, I think that's also a good version.
But "If you didn't do it, no one would have done it." is also an okay construction, so the "If you didn't" on its face is okay, don't you think?
I shouldn't try to do this when I have a fever. I'm probably writing gibberish.
Philip wrote: Grammar Geek wrote: Neither is natural. If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police. If you don't do as I say, I will call the police. My inclination is to use two pluperfects. "If you hadn't done as I had told you......." Does this sound ok to other grammar geeks?
Grammar Geek wrote:Neither is natural. If you didn't do as I [had] said, I would have called the police. If you don't do as I say, I will call the police.