have, had left

Y

yangyang

New Member
mandarin, taiwan
Please, can someone help me with this one, as I wonder whether it is gramatically correct: "Would you have
married me if my father hadn't left me a fortune?"
"Honey," the woman replied sweetly, "I'd have married
you NO MATTER WHO LEFT YOU A FORTUNE". should it be "no matter who HAD LEFT you a fortune" or it is correct as it is .

 
    • C

    chat9998

    Senior Member
    Michigan
    English, US
    Hi yangyang,

    Welcome to the forums! :)

    This is a difficult one, because it is a joke, first of all - which don't always follow proper grammar. Secondly, the "no matter who left" isn't referring to anyone in particular, as it would be a hypothetical situation. So, I would say as it is sounds totally correct to me, and I would even go so far as to say you would probably hear the joke told this way (with had left out). However, as was suggested, it is also possible that you could hear it with it in. Oftentimes, what is "correct" is what will be best understood... perhaps unfortunately, but that's just the way it goes: and I think adding "had" seems a bit unnecessary in this example.

    Hope that helps!
    God bless,
    Jeff
     
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Top