If you find an injured biker, will / would you know what to do?

[Tan Elaine]

If you find an injured biker, would you know what to do?

Is it OK, if I substitute will for would? If so, will there be a change in meaning?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

If you find an injured biker, would you know what to do?

Is it OK, if I substitute will for would? If so, will there be a change in meaning?

Thanks.

It's odd with "find". It would be better with "If you found....,would you...."

 

[MikeNewYork]

If you find an injured biker, would you know what to do?

Is it OK, if I substitute will for would? If so, will there be a change in meaning?

Thanks.

I agree with Bhai. If you use "would", use "found". Also, if you use "will", use "find".

 

[BobK]

:up: But 'If you find...' would typically be followed by an instruction: 'If you find an injured biker, phone 999'.

b

 

[MikeNewYork]

:up: But 'If you find...' would typically be followed by an instruction: 'If you find an injured biker, phone 999'.

b

That is a good answer to "What will you do?" :up:

 

[renard]

Finding an injured biker is an unlikely event. In an unlikely event, we use a "conditional sentence type 2". In a conditional sentence type 2, you use the simple past tense for the if clause, and would + infinitive for your main clause. IF clause (simple present) + main clause (would + infinitive). If you found an injured biker, what would you do?

 

[Tan Elaine]

Is using 'find' wrong? It would appear so from renard's reply.

Thanks.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Is using 'find' wrong? It would appear so from renard's reply.

Thanks.

No, it is not wrong.

 

[renard]

Is using 'find' wrong? It would appear so from renard's reply.

Thanks.

"Find" would sound acceptable to any English speaker. "If you find X, will you know what to do?" is a type I conditional (simple present in the IF clause and future in the main clause), but a type 1 conditional requires a real or likely situation, and finding an injured biker is not a real or likely situation (it is rare). That is getting very picky though, and unless you are in an advanced writing class, don't worry about it! Both are used interchangeably in normal English speech.

 

[MikeNewYork]

"Find" would sound acceptable to any English speaker. "If you find X, will you know what to do?" is a type I conditional (simple present in the IF clause and future in the main clause), but a type 1 conditional requires a real or likely situation, and finding an injured biker is not a real or likely situation (it is rare). That is getting very picky though, and unless you are in an advanced writing class, don't worry about it! Both are used interchangeably in normal English speech.

I think you are placing too much emphasis on the likelihood of finding an injured biker. Context and circumstances will determine that. For example, bikers are injured on a daily basis on the streets of New York City. I have personally witnessed at least 10 events. If one is beginning a bicycle race, it is hardly unrealistic to expect injuries. The second conditional is great for hypothetical events. The first conditional works fine for this use under the right circumstances.