Quote:
Originally Posted by timotheeeee
I have a love/hate relationship with correcting grammar on the internet. Certain mistakes are unforgivable and deserve criticism, e.g., "would of" is inexcusable because a verb intuitively needs to be there. Replacing the verb with a preposition makes negative sense. But no one knows, or should be expected to know, what the past unreal conditional is, so I don't gripe about "If I would have." The more arrogantly someone points out a grammar mistake, the more pissed I'll get, because I guarantee I can take a ten-page writing sample from that person and find twenty grammar and punctuation mistakes, not to mention awkward phrasing and word choices. Not that I'm perfect. I still make enough mistakes that I periodically revise writing samples.
(Not saying anything about atakdog--he's fine. Most people have no clue about the past unreal conditional and I'm glad he pointed it out in this conversation.)
I generally refrain from correcting grammar anywhere, but it doesn't stop me from thinking the offender is an idiot.
I completely disagree with your statement. A native speaker should know instinctively. Of course most people will have no idea what you're talking about if you mention either 'the past unreal condition' or 'the third condition', but they absolutely should know how to
use it if they are native speakers.
Looking at it the other way, it feels really stupid to say 'if I would have'.
Nope, sorry, no excuse.