condition+〜てしまいそうだった

zuotengdazuo

Sempai

8 Dec 2019

830

19

• 9 May 2020

• #1

Hi. As shown by the two examples above, are the two だったs (instead of just だ) used at the end of sentence because the clauses 〜てしまいそうだったs are preceded by conditions?
I mean, if there are no 〜たら/〜なら, we can use そうだ. But if there is a condition, we must use そうだった? I think so because I associate it with the counterfactual だった.
Thank you.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

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4,926

• 9 May 2020

• #2

There is no problem with そうだ as a common usage of the present form in narrative part of a novel, as you must be familiar with.

 

zuotengdazuo

Sempai

8 Dec 2019

830

19

• 9 May 2020

• Thread starter
• #3

Thank you. So if they appear in a dialogue or conversation or other text than narrative part of a novel, does the existence of a condition necessitates そうだった? Or we we can also use そうだ and the そうだった is just usual past tense?

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

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• 9 May 2020

• #4

そうだ works well as the present tense also in conversations. I don't think the second one is "counterfactual" in the first place. She really asked him to do something, no?

 

zuotengdazuo

Sempai

8 Dec 2019

830

19

• 9 May 2020

• Thread starter
• #5

Thank you again. I said the second one was counterfactual because he didn't really nod his head.