🤐 Stop Saying... Three Tims argue about a grammar 'mistake' with conditionals NOW WITH SUBTITLES

Stop Saying, from BBC Learning English dot com.

Hi, my name is Hasan. I come from Turkey.

I have studied conditional sentences hard. I think I understand them and know

how to form them, but I have heard lots of native English speakers

saying something like 'if I'd have known, I wouldn't have done that'.

What kind of conditional is that? Is it wrong?

Hello, Tim here to help. Now that is a really good question.

I guess a lot of people who study English  

wish they spoke more like a native speaker, right? And this is because

native speakers are always right - right? Well, it's not that straightforward,

and my own opinion changes depending on whether  

I'm being 'tough Tim' or when I'm being 'tolerant Tim'. Now let's hear from 'tough Tim' first.

'If I'd have known I wouldn't have done that'. That's wrong. It's an example of a mistake made by native  

speakers of English. Never use it. The correct sentence is: If I'd known, I wouldn't have done that.

You can't say 'If I'd have known'. This is  a third conditional sentence and the correct  

structure is 'if' plus the past perfect then 'would', 'could', 'should' or 'might' plus the present perfect.

Okay? You got that? Understand?

Wow. Okay, so maybe we should hear the other side of the argument  

from 'tolerant Tim'.

Hey, man. Sometimes you hear native speakers saying things that just

aren't in the rule books, okay? It could be that they speak a dialect

and what you're saying is 'wrong' is in fact perfectly fine

for them, and anyway language is like a living thing man, it's always changing  

so who can say what's right and what's wrong? Not me, baby. Peace. Love.

Okay, let's try to find a middle ground here.

It is true that some people speak a dialect with different grammar and vocabulary  

to that which you'll find in the books. It's also true that language is always changing  

but you probably want to pass exams in English, right? So it's probably best if you stick to the  

standard form of English for formal situations like exams, and job interviews and applications.

So to answer your question: 'If I'd have known, I wouldn't have done that' is wrong but you'll  

still hear lots of native speakers saying it. Happy now?

Thanks, Tim, that's clear now. I do need to pass exams

so I'll stick to standard English but it's good to know native speakers sometimes  

say things differently to the rule books.

Always glad to help. Now, I think I'll leave these two

to work things out for themselves. Bye.

You see, 'tolerant Tim', you're wrong.

Hey man, just back off, alright?

He said language was always changing. Just move with the times baby, get with it!

Come on, forget your rulebook.

No: rules, discipline: that is what language means.

Hey. Chill man, just chill.