Page 607 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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It doesn't matter where we go on holiday.
I don't care what we have for dinner ifI don't have to cook it.
past instead of would ...
Would, like will, is avoided in subordinate clauses; instead, we generally use past verbs. This happens in if-clauses (see 258), and also after most other conjunctions.
IfI had lots ofmoney, I would give some to anybody who askedfor it. (NOT If I W6ftlti Mile ... wn6 W6ftlti tl3kfor it.)
Would you folloW me wherever I went? (NOT ••• whei'eller: W6ftlti gtJ?) In a perfect world, you would be able to say exactly what you thought.
(NOT ••• ftI.'tat16ft ftl6ftlti fflil2le:)
I would always try to help anybody who was in trouble, whether I knew them
or not.
For past tenses after It's time. see 306; for past tenses after I'd TatileT, see 491; for past tenses after
I Wish. see 630.
simplification of perfect and progressive verbs
Simple past verb forms are used quite often in subordinate clauses instead of present perfect and past perfect tenses, if the meaning is clear.
It's been a good time while it('s) lasted.
I've usually liked the people l('ve) worked with.
For thirty years. he had done no more than he (had) needed to.
He probably crashed because he had gone to sleep while he was driving.
(More natural than ... while he had been driving.)
Progressives are often replaced by simple forms in subordinate clauses.
He's working. But at the same time as he works, he's exercising. (OR ••• at the same time as he's working .. .)
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than and as as subjects, objects and complements 581
8 exceptions
These rules do not usually apply to clauses beginning because, although, since or as (meaning 'because'), or to non-identifying relative clauses (see 495).
I won't mind the heat on holiday because I won't move about much. I'll come to the opera with you, although I probably won't enjoy it. You'll work with Mr Harris, who will explain everything to you.
For tenses in indirect speech. see 275.
581 than and as
as subjects, objects and complements
1 subjects: more than is necessary; as happened
Than and as can replace subjects in clauses (rather like relative pronouns). He worries more than is necessary. (NOT ••• m6re than it/when is necessary.) There were a lot of people at the exhibition - more than came last year. (NOT ••• m61'e thtm they ettfne Itt3t yetIr.)
The train might be Late, as happened yesterday. (NOT ••• tIS it ltttppenetl yeSfertltiy.)
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