[Grammar] Conditionals (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

[phissen]

I need some little check. Thank you

It rained all day.
If the weather (not be) so bad, we (go out).
--> If the weather hadn't been so bad, we would have gone out.

We expect Mary to be here soon.
If she (not arrive), we (found) her.
--> If she doesn't arrive, we will find her.
There is a bus.
If we (get on that one), we (arrive in time).
I can't see the bus, but even if we (catch) a bus now, we (be) late.
--> If we get on that one, we will arrive in time.
--> I can't see the bus, but even, if we caught a bus now, we would be late.

[abaka]

Originally Posted by phissen

I need some little check. Thank you

It rained all day.
If the weather (not be) so bad, we (go out).
--> If the weather hadn't been so bad, we would have gone out.

We expect Mary to be here soon.
If she (not arrive), we (found) her.
--> If she doesn't arrive, we will find her.
There is a bus.
If we (get on that one), we (arrive in time).
I can't see the bus, but even if we (catch) a bus now, we (be) late.
--> If we get on that one, we will arrive in time.
--> I can't see the bus, but even, if we caught a bus now, we would be late.

All your sentences are perfectly correct.

Don't put a comma before the "if" in the last sentence: it should be "...but even if we caught a bus now, we..".

Actually the non-conditional form is probably more common: "if we catch a bus now, we will (still) be late".

The way you have it, it emphasizes the unlikelihood of catching a bus. With the present/future, you're expecting to catch a bus any moment, but are conceding that you'll be late either way.

[phissen]

Originally Posted by abaka

Actually the non-conditional form is probably more common: "if we catch a bus now, we will (still) be late".

The way you have it, it emphasizes the unlikelihood of catching a bus. With the present/future, you're expecting to catch a bus any moment, but are conceding that you'll be late either way.

So...it can be 1st (present + future) - catch | will be late or 2nd (past + would) - caught | would be late?

When using 1st (conditional) is expecting bus any moment, and 2nd (conditional) is...what? I didn't understand that...

[abaka]

Originally Posted by phissen

So...it can be 1st (present + future) - catch | will be late or 2nd (past + would) - caught | would be late?

Yes.

1st: Even if we catch the bus now, we will be late.
2nd: Even if we caught the bus now, we would be late.

Both are correct.

When using 1st (conditional) is expecting bus any moment

That's right: you are expecting to catch the bus. You are not expecting the bus will not come.

and 2nd (conditional) is...what? I didn't understand that...

You are not "expecting" a bus to come. You may be neutral: it may or may not come. Or pessimistic: it will not come, but even if it did...

What I said about "emphasizing the unlikelihood" is perhaps too strong, but the uncertainty or pessimism is definitely there.

[phissen]

now I understand. thank you very much :)