Conditionals

[jeeva]

Hi Tdol,

Thank you very much for that explanation. What do you think about the use of "would" in this sentence?

I don't think that they would offer me that job since currently the labour market is undergoing a serious mismatch in terms of demand and supply.

Please comment, thank you.

Regards,
Jeeva

[Tdol]

It's OK.

[jeeva]

Hi Tdol,

Why is it okay?

Regards,
Jeeva

[RonBee]

Some would use would. Some would use will.

~R

[jeeva]

Hi,

I'd like to understand the rational behind it. Appreciate if someone could elaborate further on this, thank you.

Regards,
Jeeva

[riverkid]

Hi,

I'd like to understand the rational behind it. Appreciate if someone could elaborate further on this, thank you.

Regards,
Jeeva

The reaon that some use would and some use will or could or can is because of context, NOT grammar, Jeeva. Of course we can mix conditionals. The designation of First, second and Third Conditionals gives students the wrong impression of how language works.

Look at the scale below. This is how language works because this is how life works. As you can see, these modals are not isolated from each other. They meet in the middle on the scale from real to unreal.


SCALE

REAL/TRUE -------------------------------------------UNREAL/NOT TRUE

will--------------------------------><--------------------------would
can -------------------------------><--------------------------could
should-----------------------------><--------------------------should
may-------------------------------><---------------------------may
might------------------------------><---------------------------might

One poster wrote; "I prefer "go...will" or "went...would" to avoid mixing real and unreal."

Not all conditionals are frozen in the unreal. There is a great area in the middle where doubt reigns and it is here that we get our mixed conditionals. While one person views a certain situation as more doubtful, they are likely to choose a modal, like would or could that expresses their sentiment. Others who view the situation with less doubt choose will or can.

Others, who are mixed in their feelings mix conditionals. Why? Simply because they are mixed in their feelings of certainty and they express these feelings by mixing conditionals.

[jeeva]

Hi,

Thank you very much for all that explanations and have a nice day.

Regards,
Jeeva