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Thread: Conditional

  1. #1
    rewboss's Avatar
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    Default Conditional

    For a bonus, can you explain why?

  2. #2
    Raguilli is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Conditional

    It's the rule:
    I f the verb of the main clause is in the past simple, the verb of the IF-clause is in the conditional
    If the verb of the main clause is in the present simple, the verb of the If-clause is in the future
    If the verb of the main clause is in the past perfect, the If-clause is in the perfect conditional

  3. #3
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: Conditional

    How about this:
    If he would only eat better, he wouldn't have so many health problems.
    or

  4. #4
    Raguilli is offline Newbie
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    Default Re: Conditional

    This is ZERO' conditional, just like:
    If you press the blue button, the machine goes faster. The same tense in the main and the If-clauses.

  5. #5
    riverkid is offline Banned
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    Default Re: Conditional

    Quote Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
    How about this:
    If he would only eat better, he wouldn't have so many health problems.
    or

  6. #6
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: Conditional

    Quote Originally Posted by riverkid View Post
    But it doesn't work for me with the poll sentence.

  7. #7
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default Re: Conditional

    Quote Originally Posted by Raguilli View Post
    This is ZERO' conditional, just like:
    If you press the blue button, the machine goes faster. The same tense in the main and the If-clauses.
    I would not say that it is the same as a zero conditional.

  8. #8
    Humble is offline Senior Member
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    Default Re: Conditional

    You would is ok but I would isn't after if.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Conditional

    Hint: In Tdol's sentence, there are two very different uses of the word "would".

  10. #10
    riverkid is offline Banned
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    Default Re: Conditional

    Quote Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
    But it doesn't work for me with the poll sentence.
    No, you're right, Tdol, it doesn't work for the poll sentence. But IMO, that isn't a grammatical issue; it's a semantic issue.

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