Questions tagged [conditionals]
An independent clause that refers to a hypothetical situation contingent on another set of circumstance.
509
questions
0
votes
0answers
26 views
Why does this second conditional statement use the passive voice when the clauses are swapped? [migrated]
I came across this in a text book yesterday and it's been on my mind since. To be fair, it's not the best sentence anyway, but it did make me think.
"If a tornado hit Rex's house, it would destroy it....
0
votes
0answers
8 views
Correct usage of IF condition with various tenses [migrated]
This situation is a Hypothetical and takes place in future; Which one would be the correct form for this context?
He would be killed when he arrives in London.
OR
He would be killed when he arrived ...
-1
votes
0answers
12 views
Can vs Will be able to [migrated]
I ran across a question in a grammar test that was asking for a
particular sentence, and supposedly the required answer is
the first sentence given below, but not the second one,
which ...
0
votes
1answer
34 views
'Unless' in hypothetical constructions
I have been told that 'unless' can't be used in hypothetical clauses as follows:
Unless Ann had studied hard, she would have failed the exam.
My question is, why is using 'unless' in the ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Condition in future
Is it correct to say "Can the period be changed if I will not get the visa in time?"
0
votes
0answers
23 views
Is the sentence “I would be going on a vacation.” grammatically correct? [migrated]
I tried searching for similar sentences online and came across Conditional tenses. But from what I understand they have two clause - the 'if' and the main clause.
So if the sentence was - "If I ...
2
votes
1answer
53 views
The use of the grammar structure “if” + “would” in context
I stumbled upon it in this video. It is at 1 hour 21 minute and 42 second.
If the Israelis would ever once just say we got screwed in 1948, and we are sorry it happened, we would be willing to make ...
0
votes
2answers
50 views
“Haven't we wasted our time, we'd be in better shape today” [closed]
Is the above sentence grammatically correct?
0
votes
1answer
47 views
“If you are a bird I am a bird” VS “If you were a bird I …” which is right?
Why "If you are a bird I am a bird" is right?
In my case "If you were a bird, I would be a bird" or "If you were a bird I will kill you" are right. Please tell more detailed about it.
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Case of atypical conditional
I wonder how this sentence sounds in the ears of a native English speaker:
"If I had not gone there yesterday, I would not be here today"
The classic grammar lessons do not cover this combination of ...
4
votes
2answers
97 views
Which tense should this be? “are to” vs “were to”
I've been doing some exercises lately when one thing struck me:
Miss Baiocci would, I am sure, be a real asset to your organisation, knowing as she does a great deal about the way a company such as ...
2
votes
2answers
37 views
Logical implications of 'than they would be if …'? [closed]
Given:
Proof-of-concept technologies, although important, are less valuable
than they would be if they were supported by careful experiments that
identify key attributes of the design or ...
0
votes
0answers
35 views
If first condition or zero condition? [duplicate]
I saw these two sentences and was wondering which one is right,
1) If you are a well-organized person you manage your time.
2) If you are a well-organized person you will manage your time.
I know zero ...
1
vote
1answer
39 views
1st conditional: will / going to [closed]
I have read that even though it is the not the most common structure, we can use "be going to + infinitive" in the first conditional. Is there a difference in the meaning of these sentences?:
If it ...
1
vote
2answers
56 views
Why do conditional sentences with “would have had to” have an extra “had” in them?
Well, i was reading about Type Three conditionals. In the main clause we use if + past perfect (had), then in the second clause we use either the "perfect conditional" or the "perfect continuous ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
conditionals: what's the difference between these two sentenses?
There is a sentence in a paragraph from the novel And the Mountains Echoed:
"But these were gestures, Abdullah knew, acts of duty, drawn from a well far shallower than the one she reached into for ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
CONDITIONAL 2 or 3
Mark didn’t apply for the job because he didn’t get his diploma on time.
i'm not sure if i should use conditional 2 or 3.
personally, i think it's 3. because it is contrary to reality.
if mark had ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
Is the following acceptable: was expecting + if I hadn't had
I sent an email recently to a hotel where I'm going to stay, but I got a flight cancelation. Here's a passage from my email,
I had my flight canceled today, I was expecting to arrive at the hotel ...
1
vote
1answer
38 views
Would be or would have been
I'm thinking both of the following are correct but seems like I'm mistaken.
If we had started studying Spanish three years ago, we would be much more fluent in it now.
If we had started ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Conditional: “…if he makes a wrong statement.”
The members of the opposition party in the parliament shout upon the minister if he makes a wrong statement.
According to me: if + simple present clause, + future clause.
So "The members of the ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Constructions after “have to”
According to Murphy's English Grammar in Use you can use "have to" in all forms, and he offers an example in the past simple and another one in the present perfect tense. Hence, I was wondering if had ...
4
votes
3answers
287 views
Even if / Even though
Even if/though we couldn't manage without their help, I wouldn't ask them
The correct answer is "Even if" because (as I understand) only 'even if' can be used in conditional sentences.
Even if we ...
0
votes
1answer
27 views
Using will/will not after if
Most grammar rules state that will shouldn't be used after if.
Here is my sentence, I am wondering whether it is correct.
It may cause an exception if there won't be a valid character in the
...
2
votes
0answers
19 views
Omitting will in “if-will-sentence” [duplicate]
My daughter is learning if-sentences in school right now.They learned that the rule for type I sentences is "if-clause: Simple Present, main clause: will-future or (Modal + infinitive)"
How does the ...
0
votes
3answers
48 views
Can I replace “was” by “had been” here?
I have got two sentences and I want to know whether they make sense gramatically or not.
1) I would surely have crashed the car if I was driving at the time you called me.
2)I would surely have ...
0
votes
3answers
49 views
Can I omit a subject in If-clauses?
I came across a sentence on Cambridge Dictionary. It says
If found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
They omitted "he is" right ?
And can I say
If (my computer is) broken , I will fix it.
...
1
vote
1answer
93 views
If you wish + comma?
Would you place a comma in the following sentence ?
"If you wish to confirm, please send us a deposit".
Thanks.
1
vote
1answer
194 views
Is ''If I knew, I would have told you" a correct use of conditionals
I was wondering if one could use if + past simple / would + have + past participle.
0
votes
1answer
33 views
Second conditional
Should it be past tense all throughout when writing hypothetical sentences?
If I were you, I wouldn’t listen to people who were saying bad things about me.
If I could interview Angelina, I ...
0
votes
2answers
53 views
Present Unreal Conditional and speaking about present
I would like to ask, if the sentence below is grammatical and how can we understand this sentence:
If the car was sold in the last week, you wouldn't see this in the public database yet.
Also, can ...
3
votes
3answers
161 views
What type of if-conditional is: “A shop offered us a reduction if we paid in cash.”?
What type of if-conditional is this sentence?
A shop offered us a reduction if we paid in cash.
As far as I know, the only right conditional sentences are these four:
Zero Conditional:
A shop ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
tough conditional
My friend told me that she wanted to do something interesting tonight but she is too tired. I replied:
what would you like to have done? if you werent so tired?
This seems incorrect to me. Am I ...
-1
votes
1answer
70 views
What is the meaning of the statement “Tigers and lions attack if they are hungry or threatened.”?
Does it mean:
1. If a tiger/lion is hungry or threatened, it certainly WILL attack.
or does it mean:
2. A tiger/lion will attack ONLY if it is hungry or threatened (and never otherwise).
I ...
4
votes
4answers
185 views
Use of “may” or “might” and their inherent semantic difference
Under the American Heritage Dictionary's usage note for the verb "might" it says:
Usage Note: May or might? In many situations, the choice between these two verbs can be clarified by remembering ...
1
vote
1answer
50 views
“was” as a past subjunctive
I'd like to know whether "was" should be treated as a subjunctive in the following:
a. If there were a 20-story office building without an elevator, those whose office was on the 18th floor would ...
0
votes
1answer
51 views
Why does the author use ‘would’ in “I would kill him inchmeal just now”?
I am a sanguinary murderer of time, and would kill him inchmeal just now. But the snake is vital.
I'm confused because of "just now". Doesn't that mean 'a short while ago'? If so, why is there 'would'...
0
votes
1answer
165 views
“as if” or “like” in this sentence?
I want to ask a question. In this sentence, should it be "as if" or "like"? It sounded wrong to me.
"You may not be doing what you feel as if you're called to do right
now."
or
"You may not ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Even after + present perfect vs present simple
I came across the following sentence posted at the city of Melbourne public transportation rules, referring to the duties of the transportation officers:
They can check your ticket and concession ...
0
votes
2answers
44 views
What kind of conditional are these sentences?
If he really is my clone, he would never want that
If that’s the case, I would recommend the Capillary Caves to the west.
I've seen these sentences in an Anime called Gin Tama and I think they ...
1
vote
1answer
430 views
what is the correct use of “when vs If”?
Stop work and initiate emergency response when unplanned contact with a buried facility occurs. OR
Stop work and initiate emergency response if unplanned contact with a buried facility occurs.
0
votes
3answers
55 views
Can I use “should” in this particular sentence?
You are feeling ill. I would stay at home if I were you.
Can I replace would with should? Like this:
You are feeling ill. I should stay at home if I were you.
It seems illogical to me; however I ...
0
votes
1answer
74 views
What’s the difference between using “would ᴠᴇʀʙ” and “would have ᴠᴇʀʙᴇᴅ” in the “then” part of conditionals?
Is there any difference between:
If I were you, I would work harder.
If I were you, I would have worked harder.
And can we use was rather than were in both sentences?
8
votes
1answer
392 views
A Strange Conditional: “I couldn’t have talked to her that day if I never talked to her again”
In The Great Gatsby, thus pens Fitzgerald:
‘However—I want to see you.’
‘I want to see you too.’
‘Suppose I don’t go to Southampton, and come into town this afternoon?’
‘No—I don’t think this ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
If X or [if] Y - Should I extend conditional after “or”?
I have a message to write where the recipient may encounter two problems. It is currently written like this:
"If you are having problem X or if you are having problem Y please contact Z."
I'm not ...
0
votes
2answers
34 views
condition actions in the future
I am having a problem defining the British English grammar used here.
The context is that I am chatting with my brother about taking my sister to see the sequel to a film and I do know if she has ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Are there past and future equivalents of the “zero conditional”?
All English grammar coursebooks I have seen state that the Zero Conditional refers to something that is always true (and therefore is always certain) and has the form “Present Simple + Present Simple”....
-1
votes
1answer
119 views
What does the phrase “to be only able to do X for subset Y is unacceptable” mean?
What does the phrase “to be only able to do X for subset Y is unacceptable” mean?
Does it mean that the speaker is against doing X?
Or that they think effort should be made to expand X for other ...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
Subjunctive mood and conditionals confusion
I know the type 2 conditional where you have to change thhe verb from the if clause to the simple past. However this sentence confuses me.
If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be enjoying the ...
2
votes
3answers
64 views
conditional phrases
I am confused regarding conditional. I know, for example, if I say:
If he had not insulted me, I wouldn't have slapped him.
this means in reality, he insulted me and I slapped him, but if I am ...
0
votes
2answers
71 views
Question about the main clause of conditionals [duplicate]
I know the four types of conditionals. In the if clause, I know that “if” could be replaced by “when” and “should”. On the other hand, I do not know if this would be possible with the main clause. Can ...
