. . .if he is going to pass

[shootingstar]

In the OALD there is the following example:

"He needs to get his act together if he's going to pass."

What does the if-clause mean?

 

[emsr2d2]

It depends. It could mean "pass his exam", "pass the person in front of him [in a race]" or a few other things. What word/phrase did you look up that resulted in that example sentence?

 

[shootingstar]

What word/phrase did you look up that resulted in that example sentence?

I looked up "act" -> "get your act together".

get your act together
get your act together

1. (informal) to organize yourself and your activities in a more effective way in order to achieve something
   • She needs to get her act together if she's going to pass.

My actual problem is the use of "going to". Does it express an intention?

 

[5jj]

It's impossible to say exactly what pass means here without more context.

 

[Annabel Lee]

"He needs to get his act together if he's going to pass."

What does the if-clause mean?

My actual problem is the use of "going to". Does it express an intention?

Yes. The meaning is: "If he intends to pass, he needs to get his act together (in order to realize that intention)."

 

[emsr2d2]

What does the if-clause mean?

My actual problem is the use of "going to". Does it express an intention?

In that case, in post #1, you should have asked "What does 'going to' mean here?"

 

[shootingstar]

In that case, in post #1, you should have asked "What does 'going to' mean here?"

Don't be miffed about that. I feel happy about all your replies; they aren't not for nothing.

 

[emsr2d2]

Don't be miffed about that. I feel happy about am grateful for all your replies; they aren't not for nothing.

I'm not miffed. I'm giving you advice. Ask the actual question you want answered. Be clearer.
Note my corrections above.

 

[Kontol]

It depends. It could mean "pass his exam", "pass the person in front of him [in a race]" or a few other things. What word/phrase did you look up that resulted in that example sentence?

Hello, emar2d2. What does "could" mean in your sentence? Is it the same as "it can mean ...?"

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello, emsr2d2. What does "could" mean in your sentence? Is it the same as "it can mean ...?"

No. Why do you think "could" means the same as "can"?

 

[shootingstar]

I'm not miffed. I'm giving you advice. Ask the actual question you want answered. Be clearer.
Note my corrections above.

As for post #3, maybe instead of "My actual problem is the use of "going to". Does it express an intention?" I should have said "Additionally I would like to know why "going to" is used there. . . . " The word "actual" doesn't really describe what I wanted to express in post #3. I'm sorry.

 

[emsr2d2]

What would you suggest using instead of "going to"?

 

[shootingstar]

What would you suggest using instead of "going to"?

In my opinion, an alternative could be "He needs to get his act together if he wants to pass." Another one could be "He needs to get his act together if he means to pass."

 

[emsr2d2]

Those would be grammatical sentences but neither "he wants to pass" nor "he means to pass" mean the same as "if he's going to pass".

 

[shootingstar]

So, you question was a trap? I did suspect that . Then, please differentiate those meanings that I'll learn something new. Thank you.

 

[5jj]

So, your question was a trap

emsr2d2 has better things to do than set traps for members!

 

[shootingstar]

No, don't lose your sense of humour, please. It was meant as a joke so to speak. My post #15 was just meant humorously as you can see by the smiley. I didn't mean any harm, actually.

 

[5jj]

No, don't loose your sense of humour, please.

I have no sense of humour.

 

[teechar]

loose

That's an adjective, pronounced with an "s" sound at the end (rhymes with goose or truce).
The verb you need is "lose". That's pronounced with a "z" sound at the end, and it rhymes with "shoes" or "cruise".

 

[shootingstar]

Regretably, the question . . .

What do "is going to", "wants" and "means" express in the sentences

1) "He needs to get his act together if he's going to pass."
2) "He needs to get his act together if he wants to pass."
3) "He needs to get his act together if he means to pass."?

What do their meanings differ in?

. . . still hasn't been answered (already been asked in post #15). I would like to learn something new. Please help.