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2 Post By 5jj
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conditionals
My question is: Which of these sentences is right and why?
1.If I am given a choice, I would prefer...
2. If I am given a choice, I will prefer...
3. If I will be given a choice, I would prefer...
4. If I were given a choice, I would prefer...
5. If I will be given a choice, I will prefer...
There is a possibility that in future I will be able to choose something and I want to express my future preference in a very modest, submissive and polite way. I know some of the rules about conditionals and according to them the second possibility is the right one. But somehow, I feel like that "would" is important there because, as I said, I want to express my future preference in a very modest, submissive and polite way.
Please help :) Thank you.
P.S. "a choice" or "the choice"?
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Re: conditionals
I don't think you really intend to be sumissive - submissive adjective - definition in British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionary Online.
Your best choice is #4. If I were given a choice, I would prefer...
Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
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Re: conditionals
Why? Why not 1. or 2.? Can I really use 4. when I am talking about future?
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Re: conditionals

Originally Posted by
Pief
Why? Why not 1. or 2.? They are possible, #4 is better. Can I really use 4. when I am talking about future? Yes.
Bhai.
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Re: conditionals
We have the choice between a real possibility, #1 or #2, a hyypothetical possibility, #4, or unnatural English, #3 or #5.
If we have a real possibility, hypothetical 'would' in #1 is inappropriate.
We may talk about a future choice, but not normally a future preference, which knocks out #2.
That leaves us with #4. That's just about possible, though this would be more natural as : If I were given the choice, I'd choose/go for/selct/settle on ...
Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.
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