LINGUIST List 14.3148

Mon Nov 17 2003

Sum: Mixed Conditional Sentences

Editor for this issue: Steve Moran <stevelinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Sun, 16 Nov 2003 11:45:07 +0900, summary: Mixed conditional sentences

Dear linguists,

On November 11 I posted a question (Linguist 14.3084) about mixed
conditional sentences on Linguist List. My question was:

I would like to know the acceptability of examples (8)--(11).

(8) If he weren't such a terrible bore, we'd certainly have visited
him more often while he was here.

(9) She was so high-keyed that if she smoked she would have been a
chain smoker.

(10) He would have gone right into your bedroom if I didn't stop him.

(11) If she were working for Bill, he would have protected her with a
reasonably plausible story.

I received ten emails. I would like to thank the following people:
Kim Schulte, Mike Matloff, Lisa King, Bruce Deapain, Chris
Johns,Rudolph C. Troike, Nick Sobin, Tamara Nicol, Toby Paff, Laura
Callahan The result of my survey is as follows:

 * ? OK NO responses
(8) 0 0 9 1
(9) 0 1 8 1
(10) 1 5 3 1
(11) 0 1 8 1

>From this result it is clear that (8) is highest and (10) is lowest
on the scale of acceptability.

I also received suggestions from Toby Paff about the differences in
social and class dialects. 

Thank you very much.

Kenji Kashino
Professor of English Linguistics
Osaka Shoin Women's University , Japan