What if

[hatgray]

1.) Can I use would /will for both?

Q:What if I found him?
A: That would/will be great!

Q: What if I find him?
A: That will/would be great!


2.) Should I always use the construction of
found....would
find....will

or can I mix it up
found....will
find....would

Thanks

 

[GoesStation]

1.) Can I use would /will for both?

Q:What if I found him?
A: That would[STRIKE]/will[/STRIKE] be great!

Q: What if I find him?
A: That will/would be great! :tick:


2.) Should I [STRIKE]always[/STRIKE] use the construction of
found....would :tick:
find....will :tick:

or can I mix it up
found....will :cross:
find....would :tick:

Thanks

Find and would are possible but not found and ​will.

 

[hatgray]

Find and would are possible but not found and ​will.

But in other references I see that there is a standard pattern for conditionals

Type1: find....will
Type 2: found...would

Is this just a guide? And as you said it can be flexible?

 

[GoesStation]

But in other references I see that there is a standard pattern for conditionals

Type1: find....will
Type 2: found...would

Is this just a guide? And as you said it can be flexible?

I'm not sure about a general rule. However, given the question What if I find him?, the person answering may have two slightly different thoughts in mind depending on the answer:

That will be great! - "I expect you to find him, and it will be terrific."
That would be great! - "I'm not sure whether you'll find him, but if you do, it will be terrific."

 

[hatgray]

Hope anyone knows if this is an absolute rule for conditionals or if it is flexible.

appreciate the help.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'would' is possible in the first conditional because it does not necessarily refer to something unlikely/impossible.

'I would be happy if you come tomorrow.'

 

[Tdol]

Hope anyone knows if this is an absolute rule for conditionals

The conditionals are an area with many grey areas. Absolute rules are few and far between.

 

[Matthew Wai]

or can I mix it up
found....will

I thought of the following:
He was looking for it. If he found it, he will give it to me tomorrow.

The classification of conditionals as first/second/third/zero,mixed or types 1, 2, etc is a useful guide for beginners

It would be convenient for learners like me if such keywords as first/second/third/zero, mixed or types 1, 2, etc were included in the article titles in this list: https://www.usingenglish.com/profiles/view/4047/contributions/

 

[hatgray]

Hi Piscean,


“If you follow me on instagram, then you will/would have seen this.”

I think will or would is fine but others I have asked say only will is correct.

As you have said, would is possible as well?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I would use 'have followed' and 'will have seen'.

 

[Tdol]

I would use will have seen. I think follow and have followed are OK- it depends on whether you see following as the action when you click to start or the process that comes after it.