| Element | FORM/USE: INVERTED PAST PERFECT, IMAGINED PAST |
|---|---|
| SuperCat | CLAUSES |
| SubCat | conditional |
| Lexical Range | N/A |
| Level | C2 |
| Cando | Can use past perfect + inverted subject, and a modal verb + 'have' + '-ed' in the main clause to talk about imagined situations in the past. |
| Corrected Learner Example | Had he been more experienced he would have known that these things always happen in this part of the world. (Sweden; C2 MASTERY; 2001; Swedish; Pass) Had we known this fact we would have organised more activities within school hours. (Switzerland; C2 MASTERY; 2006; French; Pass) Had we learnt from the mistakes of the past, we would have given up fighting each other a long time ago. (Russia; C2 MASTERY; 1998; Russian; Pass) Had I known so many people from abroad were coming to visit our stand, I would have studied harder during my private lessons in the past. (Spain; C2 MASTERY; 1998; Spanish - European; Pass) Had this file fallen into enemy hands, it might have had disastrous effects on the Western world. (Denmark; C2 MASTERY; 1993; Danish; Pass) Had public transportation been an option I would have chosen that instead of my car. (Denmark; C2 MASTERY; 2010; Danish; Pass) |
| Uncorrected Learner Example | |
| Comments | Note on punctuation: many grammar books stress that when the 'if' clause precedes the main clause, it must use a comma. We cannot establish a consistent competency for this (and punctuation in general). It seems too idiosyncratic. L1 can be a skewing factor |
