Questions tagged [conditional-constructions]
For questions about constructions which associate a hypothetical or imagined 'condition' with a 'consequence' which is inferred to be true if the 'condition' is true OR predicted to occur if the 'condition' occurs. "If John arrives tonight we will have a party."
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Difference between "if + present, will + infinitive" and "if + present, would + infinitive"
What is the difference between the following two sentences.
I will be surprised if he confesses.
I would be surprised if he confesses.
I know that the first is often referred to as first conditional....
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14
votes
5
answers
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Tense agreement in the past irrealis conditionals
The following is taken from PEU1 123.5:
Could have + past participle can refer to present situations which were
possible but have not been realised.
He could have been Prime Minister now ...
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3
answers
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"Will" vs "would"
Here is the sentence from the test
Without the Sun there _____________ no light, no heat, no energy of any kind.
a) will be
b) would be
c) will
The answer is obviously "b" because it is ...
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5
votes
2
answers
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using "should" in an if adverbial clause
Do any one know if we use the word should in any if adverbial clause, so how that affects the sentence? Just my Profs. told me this: when we add "should", this emphasises the speaker's uncertainty ...
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2
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scope of clause within complex sentence
If I said, "I will run, not if it is snowing, if I my shoes are comfortable."
Does the "if my shoes are comfortable" modify the "I will run" clause?
I agree the sentence ...
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23
votes
4
answers
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First, second and third conditional
On grammar.ccc Rob De Decker, who (as it is written there) teaches English at a Flemish grammar school in Belgium, explains the so-called first, second and third conditional.
Instant English, a best-...
user114
0
votes
2
answers
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Need answer to an "if" question
I had a test today and there was this question :
If you are a well-organized person, you .... your time.
a) will manage
b) manage
I'd like to know the answer and why?
Thanks in advance.
Ahmed elagamy
15
votes
1
answer
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"Might" vs. "may". What's the difference?
What is the difference between might and may? Is one a more formal way to speak, or is one correct and the other wrong?
user47
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vote
4
answers
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"She will be visiting" vs. "she will visit"
When she goes to Mexico, she will be visiting Chichen Itza.
When she goes to Mexico, she will visit Chichen Itza.
Is there a particular difference in meaning, or it is just the matter of style?
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votes
3
answers
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"If you were to do" compared to "If you did"
If they were to cancel the deal, I would be devastated.
If they canceled the deal, I would be devastated.
My thextbook says, the "if ... were to" construction gives much less probability ...
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votes
1
answer
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'Would have' used alone for unreal past situations, not in conditional
Can I use would have alone like
The situation would have been worse without his help.
The lack of anybody's cooperation would have caused us a lot of problems.
to provide the same meaning as using ...
user1513
5
votes
2
answers
196
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"Will" or "Would"?
In my understanding, while talking about future whether to use "would" or "will" depends on our perception and subjective.
If you are confident about something you can use 'will' instead of 'would' ...
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5
votes
2
answers
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Uncertain usage of "should" and construction of the verb
I am not quite sure whether in the following sentence the construction of the verbs and the rest of wording are correct:
Should the construction of the University Hospital be completed, this would ...
5
votes
1
answer
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"If you explained what you ___ trying to achieve, I would ..."
I've written the next sentence
If you explained what you are trying to achieve, I would recommend a kind of workaround.
and it has raised doubts about the tense I should have used in the ...
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4
votes
2
answers
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Non-deontic uses of "should have done"
Next day we got on to more intimate subjects and I began to learn
something of his life. He was now nearer fifty than forty years of
age, though I should have thought him younger.
I had been ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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"Would have been" or "Would be"
In my English reviewing paper, I have a multiple choices question like this:
Henry ___ a rich man today if he had been more careful in the past.
I filled in "would have been" and my ...
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votes
2
answers
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"should" could be inverted in affirmative or some type of condition sentences
Should anyone phone, tell him I'm busy.
If anyone phones, tell him I'm busy.
I am wondering what is the difference between those?
What is more, I am wondering as to the inversion in the first ...
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votes
1
answer
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"Should" instead of "were to"
Can we use "should" instead of "were to" and vice versa? I've noticed that mostly they mean the same thing in the subjunctive and the conditional clauses. Especially when the "were to" isn't in the if-...
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2
votes
1
answer
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Necessity of using "had had" when a single "had" could have sufficed?
If Sir John had had the slightest idea what was going to be the devastating effect of his son's handsome looks upon a certain beautiful courtesan and the tragedy which would ensue, he might have had ...
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vote
2
answers
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Tense simplification in the present or future irrealis conditionals
PEU1 580 tense simplification in subordinate clauses
Past (form) instead of would...
Would, like will, is avoided in subordinate clauses; instead, we
generally use past verbs. This ...
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0
votes
0
answers
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Meaning of sentence with 2 conditionals [duplicate]
I said out loud, "I will ride my boat....not if it is raining....if the wind speed is 5mph”
Does this mean:
I will ride my boat if it is not raining outside and if the wind speed is 5mph. That is,...
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18
votes
3
answers
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Conditional in the past -- "If Vietnam *would* fall..."
President Eisenhower had a strategic vision, the Domino Theory.
If Vietnam would fall, other countries in Southeast Asia would fall too.
A lecturer (native speaker) said it on a lesson. Using would ...
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12
votes
4
answers
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Is "would + present tense" bad grammar?
Is using "would + present tense" bad grammar?
I said "Would it be alright if I go with you?" to a classmate and she replied with "Sure, it would be OK if you came with me." which threw me off a bit.
...
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10
votes
3
answers
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Difference between "if only" and "only if"
What is the differences between "if only" and "only if" ?
What is the use of each in the sentences? Are there any specific rules for their uses?
"I could get more work done ...
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10
votes
2
answers
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What is the difference between "If" and "When" in a conditional clause?
For these two expressions:
I will give it to you when I no longer need it.
I will give it to you if I no longer need it.
Let us say it is an object such as a book or a laptop or something similar.
...
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votes
2
answers
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"can have done" structure?
When talking about possibilities in the past, You often use "could have done".
"She could have gone to the theatre with him."
"He couldn't have done such a thing!"
"I could have saved them."
"...
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5
votes
2
answers
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past simple vs past perfect in conditionals
I was brushing up on usage of if-clauses and came across one misunderstanding. M. Swan provide some sentences as an example in the lesson about unrealised present and future possibilities:
If my ...
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5
votes
3
answers
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"If he were to do" vs. "if he did"
What is the difference in the meaning of following sentences?
If Tom were to do my homework, I would watch a film.
If Tom did my homework, I would watch a film.
I know that both of these ...
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5
votes
1
answer
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Why sometimes it is correct not to put a comma after an if-clause?
There is a recommendation to put a comma after an if-clause which is placed at the beginning of a sentence. For example:
If there was the time when songs like this were not needed, I would not live ...
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votes
1
answer
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Speaking about a real event in the past when it has not happened
Suppose my friend buys a lottery ticket on April 1st and finds out he has won a million dollars. On April 10th there will be a ceremony where he will get the money. But on April 2nd he loses the ...
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votes
1
answer
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Explaining the Second Conditional and the Third Conditional in a "logical" way
When I was searching for a job, I applied to be an English teacher, and the employer asked me about "how to efficiently explain to students the difference between the second conditional and the third ...
user17814
4
votes
1
answer
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When I put 'is' instead of 'be' in: "If she be found guilty"
If she be found guilty… (YBM #8)
I got a curiosity what difference there is when I put ‘is’ instead of ‘be.’ The dictionary says ‘is’ is used in spoken language. Is that all? Is there no semantic ...
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4
votes
6
answers
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"Could have" = "would possibly have" here?
The following parts are taken from Michael Swan's, Practical English Usage (hereafter PEU):
259.2 could have ... and might have ...
We can use could have + past participle to mean 'would have ...
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3
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Usages of "in case" and "should" inversion
I'll be at my uncle's house in case you need to reach me.
I'll be at my uncle's house just in case you need to reach me.
I'll be at my uncle's house should you need to reach me.
I'll be at my uncle's ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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What does 'would' mean following 'certainly'?
We certainly wouldn't advise you to approach the site yourself.
(Source: BBC, The Archers, 2013-04-19 Friday, 5’40”.)
What's the meaning of would when it follows certainly? Would might produce ...
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3
votes
3
answers
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Mixed conditionals/ 3rd conditional which one should be the better option to go with?
If I hadn't left her, it would be our 7th anniversary tomorrow.
If I hadn't left her, It would have been our 7th anniversary tomorrow.
Are both the above sentences grammatically correct?
Do they ...
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2
votes
1
answer
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Subjunctive in if clause
I have a question about the use of the subjunctive in if clauses.
I usually use grammarly as a grammar checker and ran into following problem:
I wrote: If he stay at home, he would die.
Grammarly ...
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votes
4
answers
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Should in conditional sentences
I am wondering for which type of conditional sentences such a "should" could be used? that is, the zero conditional or blah blah blah...???
"Should in Conditional Sentences" at EnglishPractice.com
...
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1
answer
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It will be delivered after it [ is | was | will be ] inspected?
I have a problem understanding the difference between these sentences. Before new chapter in my English book I was kind of ok with all three sentences, but now I'm having trouble understanding them ...
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0
answers
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To tell about a guess about a case in the past, why use "would+have+past participle" instead of "must+have+past participle? [duplicate]
I have seen this sentence in an article on bbc, which is about how people lived thousands of years ago.
"When this Neolithic home was built, it would have had a cosy roof of turf.."
When I ...
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2
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"That would be correct"?
I have always thought when people use the phrase "That would be correct", it is always followed by some "if" statement; for example,
Jane: "Is it correct to say that people are allowed to turn ...
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votes
1
answer
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Using just Past Simple in the Third conditional
Genderson: I told you not to take the turnpike.
KRAMER: I thought we would blend in.
Genderson: If we took the Palisades, this never would've happened.
KRAMER: Then we would've had all ...
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vote
1
answer
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Using Past Simple (verb to be) for Unreal (Counterfactual) Past Situations
In this post (Using just Past Simple in the Third conditional) Michael Swan says:
262 if (7): other structures found in spoken English
4 mixed tenses
Sometimes a simple past tense is used ...
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vote
1
answer
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"had I stayed" or "if I had stayed"?
Could you explain to me which structure was used in this sentence in the following passage.
I developed into a very different person than I would have done had I stayed in Australia...
Should it ...
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1
vote
3
answers
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What is the difference between 'should' and 'if'?
Should you be lucky to invite the Seoul,
If you are lucky to invite the Seoul,
What is the difference between the two sentences in meaning?
And what is the reason we change the order from 'you ...
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1
vote
2
answers
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Difference in meaning between 'I'd be surprised if he hadn't/hasn't'
"Has he tried to flirt with you yet?
I'd be surprised if he hadn't."
"Has he tried to flirt with you yet?
I'd be surprised if he hasn't."
Is the first one more appropriate than the second?
...
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0
votes
2
answers
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How to differentiate between if zero conditional and if first conditional?
If the tree isn't watered, it (will die - dies - would die).
I know zero conditional should be about facts. In the example above I'm confused whether to choose will die or dies.
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two conditions in one sentence using would
Please help me with following sentence construciton.
I want to use two conditions using if and would.
Senario is our office bus is not passing near from my bosss residence hence he prefer to travel ...
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1
answer
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Is there a difference in meaning among 'should', 'happens to', or 'should happen to'?
What is the difference in the meaning of following sentences (I'm asking for detailed anlaysis of these sentences)
If it rains, I will stay at home.
If it should rain, I will stay at home.
If it ...
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0
votes
1
answer
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Conditional clause (then)
In this first instance the main clause only stands alone if you omit (then).
But in the other example it clearly has a main clause. So would this be classed as an embedded main clause as it only ...
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