By Simple past, Clauses

Are you sure that you copied those right-hand sentences correctly? Neither of them is good English, except, unusually, in the context of a present-tense narrative, which I can't imagine is the intention here (and in any case would not lead to correct interpretations of the sentences in...

That "if" clause is not in the past. When you use the simple past tense in the "if" it is still possible that the "if" clause could be fulfilled.

In other words, "I wanted to know if the train would arrive on time" is wrong? I consider it correct because if does not denote condition in the sentence.CB

REMEMBER No Future in Time Clauseswill is the mark of the Future of the Present.would is the mark of the Future of the Past.This reminder applies to both "Futures". It means: No will or would in subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions such as when, before, after, etc.Like all...

What I neglected to point out is that the instructions from your web site specify the use of simple past within the clause which starts with a time expression. "We would go out for dinner" is a separate clause. So I still see no inconsistency.It would clarify matters if you would say...

This seems consistent. "Already" is an example of a time expression, so simple past is required. "I already told Mark that when he arrived, we would go out for dinner.Perhaps you're concerned about the final clause. (They probably shouldn't have used that example.) ...

Hi,I was brushing on my knowledge of the modal "would" with the help of the Englishpage website and got stuck on what it is saying here on its tutorial on "would".REMEMBER No Future in Time ClausesLike all future forms, Future in the Past cannot be used in clauses beginning...

Hello Anonymous,Avoid using the word "would" in the "if" clause of your conditional sentences. Use the present (type 1), simple past (type 2) or past perfect (type 3).

Yes, but it's not as common as the present. The provided that clause normally occurs after the main clause.The government decided to allow the researchers to continue provided that their projects were fully funded by the private sector.The farmers believed that they might still obtain a...

The condition is that the if clause may be fulfilled. In your sentences it is already impossible to fulfil the if clause making the sentences purely hypothesis. This is known as a type III conditional and is formed thus: if + past perfect + would + have + past participle. A conditional formed...