He could've written a much better book if he was working with me on it.
He could've written a much better book if he were working with me on it.
He could've written a much better book if he had been working with me on it.
I've learned all above sentences carry the same meaning. Am I right?
ThanksLiJ
I think only this is correct:
He could've written a much better book if he had worked was working with me on it.
All the 3 given by you are wrong.
Sarangadhar wrote: I think only this is correct: He could've written a much better book if he had worked was working with me on it. All the 3 given by you are wrong.
Thanks.
How about: if he worked with me on it.
Liveinjapan wrote: Sarangadhar wrote: I think only this is correct: He could've written a much better book if he had worked was working with me on it. All the 3 given by you are wrong. Thanks. How about: if he worked with me on it.
You can write like this:
He would/could write a much better book if he worked with me.
he will write a much better book if he works with me.
but not "he could/would have written a much better book if he worked with me"
I know these rules, Sarangadhar. Thanks for your reply.
Some native speakers of English told me:
You can use past simple if it is obvious that you're mentioning the past. In conversations, the past simple is commonly used, in my opinion.
LiJ
CalifJim wrote: only the last one is technically correct.CJ
CJ
I think last one is also wrong.
Thanks, CJ and Sarangadhar.