optimistic pessimist
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2008
- Member Type
- Native Language
- Japanese
- Home Country
- Japan
- Current Location
- Japan
Dear all
Let' say a friend of yours is drowing, but I can't help him because I can't swim.
In that case, I think it's possible to say, "If I could swim I would help him".
If so, how should I say when I look back on this incident 20 years later as a past event?
"If I could have swum then, I would have helped him"?
Or "If I had been able to swim then, I would have helped him"?
Or some other ways?
Thank you!
OP
Let' say a friend of yours is drowing, but I can't help him because I can't swim.
In that case, I think it's possible to say, "If I could swim I would help him".
If so, how should I say when I look back on this incident 20 years later as a past event?
"If I could have swum then, I would have helped him"?
Or "If I had been able to swim then, I would have helped him"?
Or some other ways?
Thank you!
OP
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