he said that if i had been late vs he said that if i were late

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "He said that if I had been late" is used when referring to a past unreal condition, while "He said that if I were late" is used when referring to a present unreal condition. The choice between the two depends on the tense of the verb in the main clause.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1077 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a past unreal condition.

"he said that if i had been late"

This phrase is used to talk about a past unreal condition. It is often used in reported speech to convey a hypothetical situation that did not happen.

Examples:

He said that if I had been late, he would have left without me.
She told me that if I had been late, I would have missed the train.

Show examples from the web [+]

Because you said if I was late again, you'd fire me.
Roger was called while with a patient and said if it is late round of golf you pay for beer.
He said that if I didn't tell the truth, he would.
He said that if I helped him find Ray he'd pay me a hundred grand.
And he said that if I thought for a second he was capable of such a thing, I should break it off right there.
He said that if i didn't look after you, He'd come back and haunt me.
He said that if I needed proof, I should check my front porch, And when I did, this was there.
Anyway, he said that if I helped him skim from the gang's account, he would protect me.
He said that if i had an abortion, I wasn't welcome in his congregation.
He said that if I sleep with you, my son would take the role.
He said that if I ever got into trouble that you were the person to call.
Then he said that if I came, he wouldn't.
He said that if I gave him the $14.75, he'd tell me where Dum-Dum was.
He said that if I ever told anyone of his behavior that it would ruin his career.
And after, he took me home, and he said that if I ever needed him, he'd be there for me.
But he said that if I quit, that he'd do everything he saved me from in prison.
But he said that if I quit, That he'd do everything he saved me from in prison.
He said that if I didn't get you on the phone, that he would leave...
And he said that if I just did what he said, he'd hook me up, too.
And then he said that if I didn't come with him, that he'd... that he'd kill Peter, too.

Alternatives:

he said that if I had arrived late
he said that if I had come late
he said that if I had shown up late
he said that if I had gotten there late
he said that if I had turned up late

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a present unreal condition.

"he said that if i were late"

This phrase is used to talk about a present unreal condition. It is often used in reported speech to convey a hypothetical situation that is not true in the present.

Examples:

He said that if I were late, he would be disappointed.
She told me that if I were late, I would miss the beginning of the movie.

Show examples from the web [+]

Because you said if I was late again, you'd fire me.
Roger was called while with a patient and said if it is late round of golf you pay for beer.
He said that if I didn't tell the truth, he would.
He said that if I helped him find Ray he'd pay me a hundred grand.
And he said that if I thought for a second he was capable of such a thing, I should break it off right there.
He said that if i didn't look after you, He'd come back and haunt me.
He said that if I needed proof, I should check my front porch, And when I did, this was there.
Anyway, he said that if I helped him skim from the gang's account, he would protect me.
He said that if i had an abortion, I wasn't welcome in his congregation.
He said that if I sleep with you, my son would take the role.
He said that if I ever got into trouble that you were the person to call.
Then he said that if I came, he wouldn't.
He said that if I gave him the $14.75, he'd tell me where Dum-Dum was.
He said that if I ever told anyone of his behavior that it would ruin his career.
And after, he took me home, and he said that if I ever needed him, he'd be there for me.
But he said that if I quit, that he'd do everything he saved me from in prison.
But he said that if I quit, That he'd do everything he saved me from in prison.
He said that if I didn't get you on the phone, that he would leave...
And he said that if I just did what he said, he'd hook me up, too.
And then he said that if I didn't come with him, that he'd... that he'd kill Peter, too.

Alternatives:

he said that if I was late
he said that if I am late
he said that if I get late
he said that if I arrive late
he said that if I come late

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he said that if i had been late vs he said that if i were late