Conditional

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Optimus

#520166 Wed, 28 May 08 07:50 PM

Hello.

Which of these sentences is grammatically correct?

1. I wouldn't have bothered to have considered him if it weren't for your recommendation.

2. I wouldn't have bothered to consider him if it weren't for your recommendation.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Optimus

Joined on Tue, Jul 26 2005

Junior Member (70)

Could the true reason we fear the unknown be that we know ourselves too well? -The Outer Limits

Cool Breeze

#520182 Wed, 28 May 08 08:21 PM

Both are grammatical. Since the perfect infinitive have bothered is enough to put the action in the past, there is no need to use the perfect infinitive to have considered. That's why I prefer the second sentence.

Cool Breeze

Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006

Helsinki, Finland

Senior Member (2,964)

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.- Mark Twain

Kooyeen

#520219 Wed, 28 May 08 10:26 PM

I only like the second:

Optimus
2. I wouldn't have bothered to consider him if it weren't for your recommendation.

You bother to do something, not "to have done something", in my opinion. Just my opinion though. Smile

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (4,046)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.