Questions tagged [conditionals]
An independent clause that refers to a hypothetical situation contingent on another set of circumstance.
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Comparing “Zeroth” and “First Conditionals” in similar contexts [migrated]
Hey! Do not touch the car. The alarm (go off) ______ if you touch it.
Can both “zeroth conditional” and ”first conditional” be accepted in this context?
Regarding their usage, zero type refers to a ...
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If conditional sentence with mixed tenses [migrated]
An appalling waste of resources, if this were to happen.
This sentence was observed in a newspaper article recently. What type of conditional sentence is this? Why there are mixed tenses used?
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Is this tense usage correct, "you'll continue acting"?
if you'll continue acting like...
I understand "if you continue to act like..." seems more logical, but is there a fault in the first sentence? I am focusing on the "act" part. ...
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1answer
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“If” clauses with multiple verbs
Can someone tell me if the first sentence is grammatically correct and what are the differences between the three variations of the second?
Imagine what would happen if she had told me I could choose ...
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Is using 'as if' okay as a sentence starter?
My teacher is having us write as if sentences and using as if at the start of the sentence. For example, she used "As if I had money, I went shopping". This makes no sense to me or several ...
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1answer
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Commas in an if, or, then statement
For example, do I need the commas in the following sentence?
If you use spectacles, or if you think you will require them within the next year or so, inform your supervisor.
To me, this reads better ...
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2answers
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Can a conditional sentence begin with "when"? [closed]
I would want to dispel my doubts about the grammaticality of the following sentence:
When Andrew is there, he will probably have to be helped to climb the stairs.
Some context: I know for certain ...
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What type of Conditional grammar is this? [closed]
In this sentence, if clause is present, but another clause comes with would.
I wonder what type of conditional is this.
If you’re exhausted from the hustles and bustles of life, and you need to take ...
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Conditionals, past perfect vs would [duplicate]
I was reading a book and I can't understand why past perfect is used in the sentence below:
The signal from successive eclipse has less and less distance to travel, so it arrives earlier than if ...
2
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1answer
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When can you use "if" in a sentence and it not be conditional? [closed]
I'm a little intimidated asking this on this website, being an engineer, but I've wondered this often the past few months so I wanted to ask. It seems that whenever "if" is used, then it ...
4
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1answer
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Omission of if in a conditional phrase
This is an excerpt from Kant's Critique of Pure Reason.
It is, however, clear that even this apprehension of the manifold alone would bring forth no image and no connection of the impressions were
...
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3answers
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the only way is if~
I have never gotten to listen to one of those Parental Warning CDs, because Mom and Dad never let me buy them at the mall. So I realized the only way I was gonna get a chance to listen to Rodrick's CD ...
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Conditionals to express an action in the past if a condition been met
Can anyone please explain me if the following two sentences are grammatically correct? If so, how they differ in meaning?
If I had gone back when I was unemployed for one year after my
graduation, I ...
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Use of conditional and subjunctive in past tense narration [duplicate]
I am helping my friend with a story that is written in the past tense, and I've hit a snag with their uses of conditional and subjunctive. I could have sworn that I learned that you use "was"...
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"could" with the progressive aspect of a verb
Situation 1: My friends are playing outside. My leg is injured. Sitting at home, I'm thinking:
It's pity that my leg is injured. I could be playing with them now.
Situation 2: My friends are playing ...
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1answer
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Is the sentence "just to help me if I'd paint" grammatically correct?
So I was just listening to this song by Lana Del Rey and she goes:
"said he'd come back every May, just to help me if I'd paint"
I can't really make sense of the "help me if I'd paint&...
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1answer
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The usage of "on the condition that"
I know that I can use the phrase 'on the condition that' with if clauses such as
He agreed to work on Saturdays on condition that he was paid overtime.
But I'm not sure if I can use this structure ...
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If it's a page lead, I'll normally try to get hold of it [closed]
If it's a page lead, I'll normally try to get hold of it. If it's a summary I normally won't have time.
I would normally read abstract and discussion, and skim the rest. If it's about quantum ...
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1answer
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"If it were not for" and "if it had not been for": Which is more traditional?
Some use "if it were not for" to mean both the present and the past events, while others use "if it had not been for" for the past. For the former, see Oxford and be (verb) in OALD....
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1answer
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Tenses in clauses with conditionals [closed]
If you could go back in time, what would you do so that you ___ your life lived without regrets?
will have
would have
have
would have had
My questions:
Is this a badly written sentence? How do I ...
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0answers
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Timing of adverb after conditional
The sentence in question:
Should you decide to decline the offer, the contract is terminated effective immediately.
My question is about the timing of the word immediately. Would immediately refer to ...
0
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1answer
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Only if-conditional sentences and inversion
As I was studying for my upcoming grammar exam, I stumbled across the following sentence:
Your membership will only be renewed if you pay your subscription within the next seven days.
Is it also ...
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1answer
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Past Perfect Negative Plus Future Perfect while in the Present
Given the situation:
I enjoy a podcast that has ended
There is a bonus episode of the podcast that I am not aware of that, if I were aware, I would listen to it
Somebody tells me about the existence ...
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0answers
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Question on use of the 'first' conditional in the past (no modal involved)
Which conditional is this?
If John did not come to work yesterday, he was probably ill.
I would hazard a guess that it is a first conditional as there is a fair probability that John being ill was ...
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As if and as though
A few weeks ago one of my friends looked at my daughter and said "She looks as if she is not your daughter" is it correct to use present tense in a situation like that? The thing is that she ...
0
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1answer
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Need help with the sentence [closed]
I would like to ask which one of the following sentences are grammatically correct? And any suggestions for similar context would be greatly appreciated.
Without WikiLeaks or Julian Assange, the ...
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The peculiarities of using Type2/Type3 Conditionals with regard to the shifting of tenses
When making out sentences in narration of the past time events and implementing the Conditional Mood, shall the time shift principles be observed? For example:
[conveying the idea of unreal condition ...
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Conditional sentence using "were to"
The question I have is about conditional construction "were to have + past participle".
Let's take an example:
"If she were to have failed the final test, she would have cried."
...
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2answers
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If he got the job, he would be very happy now
Consider this, please:
Person A: My brother was supposed to appear for an interview at 8am, and now it's 10. I don't know if he got the job or not. But one thing is for sure,
If he got the job, he ...
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0answers
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Backshifting "if" statements [duplicate]
Let's say someone said this: "We planned to cancel the event if he got sick."
In backshifting this statement, are both of these statements appropriate and equivalent?
"They said they ...
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0answers
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Tenses in dependent clauses with conditionals
From wikipedia:
Apart from the special cases referred to in the sections above, many
other dependent clauses use a tense that might not logically be
expected – in particular the present tense is used ...
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Looking for an answer in regards to POSSIBLY a present perfect in a first conditional sentence
My question is about this one sentence which has been driving me crazy. I found a discussion on here about present perfect in a first consditional sentences. "If I've...., I'll be able to, etc..&...
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Two overlapping meanings of "will"
The verb "will" has many overtones and meanings but I want to bring up these two:
If you will help me open the door, I will take the desk out.
"If you will help" means "If ...
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4answers
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If John had taken it, he would have let me know
Person A: Where is my car?
Person B: I don't know. Maybe John took it.
Person A: If John took it, he would have let me know.
Person A: If John took it, he will have let me know.
Person A: If John ...
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0answers
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scope of subordinate clauses
I have a complex sentence with multiple subordinate clauses: Can one subordinate clause encapsulate another or is each subordinate clause equal and independent to each other:
I will go running when it ...
0
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1answer
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nested if clauses [duplicate]
If I have 2 "if statements" next to each other, does the last "if" statement become embedded within the first "if statement"?
For example, "I will swim only if I go ...
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Does the if clause modify "I will play the violin" even though the clauses are not next to each other?
I will play the violin when I am at the park if my fingers are not sore today.
Is the "if" clause modifying "I will play the violin" even though these clauses are not next to each ...
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1answer
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usage of when and tense in a conditional sentence?
There are two conditional sentences which one is more correct grammatically?
When I come home, my children will be playing.
When I come home, my children would be playing.
In the first sentence the ...
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In third conditional sentences, if the conditional clause precedes the independent clause, should a comma precede the independent clause?
(conditional clause with past perfect + comma + independent clause containing modal auxiliary + have + past participle)
I learned this rule many years ago when I was a high school student, but I ...
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1answer
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Conditional sentence with "even if" [duplicate]
What do you make of this sentence? Thanks!
Even if a potential customer would never have seriously considered switching from a PC to a Mac, the company knew that if they could get them into the store,...
0
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1answer
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Varying modal verbs in counterfactual ("subjunctive") conditionals
There are some situations in which one would like to vary the modal verb in counterfactual conditionals, but it seems to be incorrect.
"If things were otherwise, she would keep her promise."...
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2answers
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If clause with a past tense about future for hypothetical condition
Is there any case in English were a future condition is represented with past tense?
E.g. "If I saw you tomorrow, I will do ..."
In some languages, it casts more doubt for the condition to ...
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meaning of "for if" in this sentence
I can eat anything in this buffet including the lamb chops for dinner only, for if I pay the full price.
Does the "if I pay the full price" clause apply to everything before it?
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Tricky grammar : as if clause [duplicate]
These days, I'm reading "Humans of New York", and find some tricky...Grammar(?). This sentence below including conditional is one of them.
“I can’t stand moral absolutism. You know, there’s ...
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1answer
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How do I tell whether "even if" or "unless" is right?
Some say unless should fill the gap and others say even if should go there. How do I tell which one is correct?
I couldn't have got to the airport on time yesterday .......... I had found a taxi.
a. ...
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2answers
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Subjunctive vs. indicative with conditionals
I was reading this topic from March 2014 and thought Charles’s answer was great until I got to the following part:
The letter claimed exactly the same as the first, namely that if his letter wasn't ...
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1answer
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Can you use “if past, then past”?
Is it possible to use the past simple in the result-clause of the 2nd conditional?
Is it possible to say:
If I had enough money, I bought a car.
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1answer
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Is there a name for this format - '5:number :: k: ? '?
Is there a name for this format - 5:number :: k: ? ?
The question mark in the above poses a question. The answer is supposed to be found out by looking the relation of previous pair. In this case ...
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3answers
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Can "would" be used in a conditional like this?
I know there's a multitude of similar questions, but I just can't find one that clearly applies to my problem. The sentence I'm struggling with deals with an obligation and sounds similar to this.
...
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Do I use ''becomes'' or ''became'' here?
I have a sentence which I'm not quite sure is right:
The certificate became invalid when the commitments contained in the
agreement are not fulfilled.
I got confused a little. Shouldn't the word &...
