verb tense: 'I could've grabbed it if you hadn't pulled me off'

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

i just wanted someone to tell me if my verb tense was correct. “pulled”

  1. "I could’ve grabbed it if you hadn’t pulled me off. "

so is “pulled” ok in that phrase? thanks.

2

Yes, your use of the past perfect in that sentence is correct.

3

i wanted to ask your opinion about a dialoq line. i wrote:

CHARACTER 1
Have you ever felt like you try your hardest but it’s never good enough?

CHARACTER 2
Sometimes but at least I tried.

(but i think i should change the “tried” to “try” like this one)

CHARACTER 2
Sometimes but at least I try.

—what do you think? should i change it ?..

and would it be grammaticaly correct ? i think i’m going to choose “try” because it flows better.

4

More context would be needed to be able to give some sensible advice. The use of the present simple would be appropriate to a general statement, whereas the past simple would refer to a specific, past experience.

5

character 1 is not really referring to any event. he is not talking about some event in the past. he just feels sad and the other character is trying to console him.

and i thought that “try” flowed better.

and i wanted a second opinion about it. and to know if it was grammaticaly correct or not if i used “try”

so again, not referring to a past event , just sad and the other character tries to console him.

6

Yes, it is grammatically correct.

7

Hi Huxley

How about a slightly reworded version? Your Character 2 could say this:
Sometimes, but at least I know I tried.

Amy