Hi guys, does anyone here knows anything about “the passive voice in unreal conditional sentences “I would be thankful if anyone here can help me out, I have to give lecture about it on Wednesday.The passive voice has always been very confusing for me I hope with your help I can understand it better .
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Maybe it's too late to add comments here. But I think "the passive voice in unreal conditional sentences" mainly talks about the use of "were" instead of am, is, or are.
For example,
If I were elected as president of the United states, I would not wage a war.
But strictly speaking, there seem to be two things to consider - "present or past" and "passive voice in the first clause or second".
The above example is for "the present unreal conditional sentence with passive voice in the first clause".
The other examples are:
If I invented a drug for flu, the lives of millions of people would (might) be saved. (the present unreal conditional sentence with passive voice in the second clause; you will use "would or might be")
If my membership had been approved a little earlier, I would have talked to you before your class. (the past unreal conditional sentence with passive voice in the first clause; you will use "had been")
If I had joined My English Club a little earlier, you would not have been embarrassed by your students. (not sure if that happened, hehe...; the past unreal conditional sentence with passive voice in the second clause; you will use "would have been")
Does that make sense??
It's confusing to me too actually.
yoh