solitaryreaper Quote:
Is there a meaning difference between B and C, because grammatically both are fine.
Structure of B is:
If past tense, would form (indeed hypothetical form). Therefore I don't see any issue with B.
Can anyone clear the air as to why C is preferable (meaning difference if any)?
I am afraid that things work differently.
Here are two situations using If; If you are going to describe an event, that perhaps did happen in the past, then the main clause would be noted in the ‘past of will’ or the modal ‘would’ do or sing or help etc. We should not use the modal perfect tense here namely ‘If I was X, then, I would have done this or that.
Although Choice B belongs to this category, in the second part, it is fouling the grammar by using the modal perfect
C on the contrary, uses the subjunctive by using a future modal perfect, since it is talking about a hypothetical event. We do know that Rome did fall and therefore this is a contrary fact. In view of this we have to say ‘would not have been’ in the main clause.
The point is that B is not grammatically correct since it mixes up ordinary happening with hypothetical happening