[Ads-l] odd sequence of tenses

[dave@wilton.net]

I don't see anything odd at all, it's just the natural sequence of tenses. The superordinate verb is in the historical present, so the time frame of the entire sentence is the present. The lack of a pandemic in the subordinate clause would then normally be expressed in past perfect, as it is a "completed" action. (The fact that it didn't happen is over and done with.)
 
"If there had not been a coronavirus in 2020, Trump probably won that election" seems odd to me, especially coming from Axelrod. Ending on "probably won" gives the impression that Axelrod thinks Trump should be president, which is clearly not the case. That's not literally what the sentence says, but ending on that note gives that impression especially when so many nutters are actually claiming he won.
 
Removing the political considerations:
 
"If the quarterback had not fumbled, the Jets probably won the game." 
 
Yep, that seems weird to me. "Win" is what I would say.
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2021 7:09pm
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ADS-L] odd sequence of tenses



Superficially, but it's substituting for a conditional "would have," not a
past "won."

JL

On Mon, Oct 11, 2021 at 6:21 PM Barretts Mail <mail.barretts at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Isn’t that just the narrative present?
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_present <
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_present>
>
> Benjamin Barrett (he/his/him)
> Formerly of Seattle, WA
>
> > On 11 Oct 2021, at 05:40, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >
> > David Axelrod, former Obama official, on CNN:
> >
> > "If there had not been a coronavirus in 2020, Trump probably wins that
> > election."
> >
> > Note the formality of "had not" before the weirdness sets in.
> >
> > JL
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>


-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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